Chief Tunde Fanimokun, a retired Permanent Secretary in Lagos State earlier, today, delivered the Lagos State University, LASU 2025 Distinguished Personality at which he pledged a gift of N18bn to the institution for its educational advacement.
The lecture, titled, “The Practicality of Incorruptibility under Democratic Dispensation, Bridging Good Leadership: A Case Study of Alhaji Lateef Jakande in Lagos State (979-1983)” was delivered at the Makanjuola Lecture Theatre on the Ojo, Lagos Main Campus of the institution.
Fanimokun, who served in the regime of Ahaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, LKJ, the first elected Governor of the state, disclosed that in addition to the monetary gift, he had also bought a property in the Surulere area of Lagos for the institution.
The 81-year old Lecturer cum Donor disclosed that he was motivated to make the donations to further enrich the legacy of Jakande under who he served as permanent secretary (Economic Matters) in the four years three months of the LKJ administration in Lagos State from October 1979 to December 1983.
In the lecture, Chief Fanimokun canvassed 20 points which Jakande symbolised to emerge a model leader that drove unprecedented development in Lagos State in the Second Republic.
The points highlighted by him include: Jakande being a genius who planned for office; he being a strong advocate of the universal success formula in all human endeavours; and apostle of the philosophy of the greatest good of the greatest number of the people. He added that Jakande was an epitome of visionary leadership and leadership by example with insatiable passion for audacious dream projects as a “possibilitarian”; his innovative creation of 23 new LGs from eight (8) in Lagos State in 1980; a reference point of entrepreneurship in the public sector; and advocate of “sustainable development” since there is no end to prosperity.
Fanimokun further said that LKJ was the facilitator of the precious Osborne Foreshore Estate (OFE) in Ikoyi as well as Ikoyi Foreshore Estate (IFE) 1983 including the Park View Estate Extension; he was the godfather of the iconic Banana Island in 1984; the master builder of the Lekki Peninsula Development Scheme as well as being an advocate of balancing the budget instead of deficit financing and the debt burden trap in development planning.
He commended LASU Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello for driving development in the institution, pointing out that she must have studied LKJ and imbibed some of his unique attributes in achieving so much during her tenure in LASU.
Concluding the lecture, the elder statesman submitted that if the Jakande leadership style is adopted at the leadership level in Nigeria, the country could still be redeemed.
Among the dignitaries that attended the lecture were the secretary to LKJ administration, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun; LKJ’s chief press Secretary, Prince Bayo Osiyemi and Bashorun Fatai Arobieke one of the brains behind the economic policies of the (LKJ) administration.
