APAPA HOLDS FIRST ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Hitherto Apapa is regarded as gold mine Local Government which has many opportunities and enriched potentials  for both Nigerians and the outside world. But suddenly, the aforementioned Golden pastures have been eluding investors and promising entrepreneurs. This greatly affected the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

It is in consideration of the challenges faced by the Local Government that necessitated the brain storming which brought about *HARNESSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABLE TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS*

In order to find  lasting solutions to this lingering challenges, the Local Government partnered with Apapa Development Initiative.

The Summit spans two consecutive days 21st - 22nd Nov, 2017 at Rock View Hotel.

Hon. Owolabi Elijah Adele, Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government said the Summit was a significant milestone because it will create platforms for brain storming and cross fertilize ideas with opportunities for self and community development. He stated that Apapa is regarded as the gateway to the Nation's economy and presently in a state of despondency as a result of scourge of hellish traffic situation affecting every sphere of life in the Government.

He narrated the ordeals of the Local Government as most companies are relocating, residents selling their properties for peanuts, workers go through hectic times getting to and off work. The problem which is caused by bad roads, lack of capacity of ports to manage their cargo throughout.

With this synergy, according to him, all major players, experts and professionals will not only unravel the mysteries surrounding the traffic problem but also examine how economic life can return to Apapa and how thr people can optimize the potentials of having two large ports in Africa within their domain through concrete workable and implementable solutions.

Her Excellency, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Governor of Lagos State gave keynote address on *WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT* She noted that the topic was relevant to the summit because economic development of any society comes faster with the involvement of women. She stated that women dominated the informal sector of most economies. And that in addition to domestic responsibilities at home, women are involved in petty trading that would generate income.

The first Lady submitted that many Nigerian women are now heading the management teams of banks, Major manufacturing companies and other blue chip firms with branches beyond the shores of Nigeria and Africa. Also, many influential Nigerian women, politicians and appointees in positions of authority, daily contribute to major economic decisions at the highest level determining official policy directions.

 Mr Mike Egbayelo, Executive Secretary/CEO Apapa Development Initiative said the summit was a thoughtful constellation of ideas across different sectors how to positively impact on the generation of revenue and overall development of Apapa Local Government. According to him, he is visualising Apapa as indispensable hub of economic Haven.

In recognition of her Her Excellency's role as epitome of general philanthropist and founder of *"HOPE FOR WOMEN IN NIGERIA"*The Apapa Local Government Executive Chairman, Hon. Adele Elijah Owolabi together with Apapa-Iganmu's Chairman Hon. Funmilayo Mohammed and CEO ADI Presented award to her.

Majority Leader, Hon. Muyiwa received award on behalf of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa.
The following topics were deliberated upon for way forward: EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR APAPA - CIS PERSPECTIVE,
EFFICIENT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND TRUCK TRANSIT PARK-THE REGULATORS PERSPECTIVE,
AUTOMOTED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND CALL-UP SYSTEM - THE INVESTORS, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF TRAFFIC PROBLEM, REVENUE GENERATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN APAPA, OPTIMISING OPPORTUNITIES IN MARINE INDUSTRY, THE NEW PORTS MASTER-OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES AND STAKE HOLDERS and many more.

There were many important personalities at the summit who equally delivered wonderful speeches.

LAGOS COUNCIL BOSS, OLABISI ADEBAJO CELEBRATES 1ST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE WITH ‘LIVES’ TOUCHING PROJECTS

The Executive Chairman, Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Alimosho, Lagos State, Hon. Princess Olabisi Adebajo popularly called Abisco, has set a pace for others to follow in service delivery as political office holders in the country. The hardworking woman, within a space of just 100 days at the helms of affairs at her fast developing LCDA, has achieved what some would struggle to put in their score cards in terms of dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots, at the end of their 3 or 4 year tenure.

For Abisco whose—like many other council bosses in Lagos State—tenure just clocked 100 days on Monday, 7^th November, 2017, it was a catalogue of achievements for her weeklong celebration. The week started off with graduation of about 200 beneficiaries of what was tagged: Abisco Skills Acquisition Programme (ASAP) where the graduands, after acquiring basic skills for 4 weeks in different crafts including Fashion Designing, Hairdressing, Tailoring, Barbing, Beads Making, Pedicure/Manicure, Soap, Insecticide, Liquid Soap and Hand Sanitizer Making, Shoe and Other Leather Crafts Making, were equipped with the tools and facilities necessary to start off their own businesses immediately.

While the beneficiaries could not hide their joy at the kind gesture from the first female Executive Chairman of the LCDA for a project which was said to be only a 1^st Phase, Abisco who asserted that she believed in teaching people how to fish rather than giving them fishes, further admonished the graduands at the ceremony that: “While I would like to thank the instructors in the various crafts during the just concluded programme for doing diligent jobs, I want to encourage all the participants to nurture a cordial relationship with their different instructors so that they can always go back to them whenever necessary for clarifications on any grey area in what they learnt as the case may be. Knowledge is always continuous, so learning doesn’t end here.”

And like the acronym for her Day 1 project: ASAP connotes, the amiable chairman was apparently a woman willing to succeed As Soon As Possible (ASAP) as the Day 2 of her celebration of 1^st 100 Days in Office witnessed another laudable event. Tuesday, 8^th November, kicked off with the hosting of Widows and Elders from Mosan-Okunola LCDA where the chairman interacted and danced with them before they were all handed cash gifts for their welfare. According to some of the benefiting Widows and Elders, that was the “first time ever,” that they would be remembered by anyone taking charge of the LCDA. Meanwhile, Abisco had earlier told them in her speech that, “…While we may also not be carrying out an exercise like this day in, day out, we would ensure that it happens from time to time because we recognise that this set of people needs to be supported and cared for at this stage of their lives. Life is in phases and everyone’s turn to a stage like this is bound to come at some point in time. And it is whatever we sow today we shall reap tomorrow.” Hence, they all left happily as they looked forward to another round of such gesture.

Day 3 of the celebration was dedicated to what was tagged: Abisco Health Fitness Walk/ Health Talk during which the chairman led a section of people from the LCDA on a fitness walk that took off from Estate Gate, Mosan, and travelled through different areas of the local council as residents and traders who could not take part in it waved approvingly to those doing the exercise. The walk eventually terminated at the Multipurpose Hall of the LCDA where a fitness expert had health talk with the people at which they were told the importance of taking such walk. “…Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce our risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. And unlike some other forms of exercise, walking is free and doesn’t require any special equipment or training”, the expert explained as Abisco kept nodding in affirmation which went to show same was her rationale for initiating the exercise and for also taking part as a demonstration to all.

Because her aim was evidently to touch lives of everyone within her domain, and having done something for the youths on Day 1, and something for the old on Day 2, Day 4 of the celebration was then dedicated to children at school. The indefatigable chairman whom many from her LCDA have started referring to as “Abisco Talk and Do” donated 400 Chairs and Desks, 3000 School Bags and 27000 Exercise Books to all the 4 public Primary Schools in Mosan-Okunola. At the event for the donation which took place at Abesan Primary School where the chairman mingled and danced with the obviously appreciative children, she reasoned in her speech that her gesture was to make learning environment conducive for the children. “… If truly, they (the children) are the leaders of tomorrow, we owe them the responsibility of being soundly educated as a foundation. And that is indeed, our driving force in this direction.” She concluded before Student Representatives from Lagos State University (LASU) presented her with a merit award as the Best Performing Chairman of the Year 2017 at the event.

The final day of the celebration which was Friday, 10^th November, witnessed commissioning of Steel Link Bridge at Water/Cele Village which was constructed to make the adjoining communities more accessible for the residents. Residents carried placards to appreciate the gesture of the chairman in constructing the bridge for them while the commissioning proceeded. The next project in line for commissioning on the day was school toilet and potable water supply for African Church Primary School, Akinogun, and the two projects were commissioned promptly by Abisco. And to end the week of celebration, the chairman later led her Executive Committee members and some party chieftains to inspect patching of bad portion and overlaying of asphalt on Mr Biggs Junction By 21 Road (Gowon Estate) aimed at easing the stress usually faced by road users on the stretch of road in the LCDA. As at the time of this report, works have since been completed on the said road.

See pictures from the events…