The Governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu today became the Patron of the Centre for Africa Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) of the University of West of England (UWE), Bristol, United Kingdom. The investiture ceremony, attended by dignitaries from Nigeria, the UK, and other parts of the world, took place in the Bristol campus of the university.
Acclaimed for his THEMES+ Agenda, with immense focus on social inclusion, gender equality, and youth development, has led to remarkable improvements in all socioeconomic and political aspects of Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub, Lagos, Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu deservedly gets the appointment for his towering leadership.
The Governor has championed education from the basic level up the ladder in Lagos State. The introduction of EKO Excellence in Child Education and Learning (EKOEXCEL) has fostered gender parity within Lagos State public primary schools and has seen an increase in the number of female pupils entering school. It is notable that the girls are often outperforming their male counterparts in high-stakes examinations like the NCEE. This success at the basic level typified by EKOEXCEL is taken upwards to the secondary and tertiary levels in Lagos.
Delivering his keynote at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the visionary leadership of the University of the West of England, led by Prof. Sir Steven West, the Founding Director of the Centre, Prof. Paschal Anosike, and all partners whose hard work has brought the noble idea to life. He said CASET stands as a beacon of bold and bright promise, and with collective effort, its impact will be felt across Africa and beyond, promising, ‘Lagos State will be a willing and committed partner, and we will do our best to help in forging additional partnerships.’
He added that his administration, through some policies, is empowering young people with the skills, platforms, and capital they need to build businesses, create jobs, and drive change.
He affirmed that Lagos State ’embodies a megacity minting some of the most exciting artists and creatives in the world today, while also asserting itself as a global startup ecosystem, home to several unicorn companies.’
On his part, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan who presented the citation of the Governor as the founding Patron of CASET stated, ‘I present to you the Vice Chancellor of the best university in the world, a university called Lagos whose student strength is above 22 million.’
‘Under his leadership, Lagos has become a dynamic hub of socioeconomic growth. His transformative leadership in education and youth empowerment continues to inspire unparalleled progress in Africa. This makes him a powerful voice for the mission CASET aims to fulfill’, Ogunsan highlighted.