Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor has called on his Cabinet members to be open to innovations and integrate them into their daily operations and activities.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat his Deputy gave the advice on Wednesday at the One Day Workshop on Effective Project Management organized by the Project Implementation and Monitoring Unit (PIMU) and the Projecting Management Institute, USA held at the Marriot Hotel Ikeja.
He said the cabinet members are not only familiar with the administration’s vision for Lagos State but are the very architects of the vision, stressing that they have a critical role to play in the delivery of the government’s agenda.
He said that they should embrace the importance of leveraging technology and data in project management in the state, stressing that the world is now in an era where digital tools and data-driven insights are transforming governance.
“In an era where digital tools and data-driven insights are transforming governance. We must remain ahead of the curve. Technology offers us the ability to track projects in real-time, measure impact, and make data-informed decisions that enhance our capacity to deliver.”
Sanwo-Olu noted that the success of the shared mission of the state government depends largely on the efficiency, precision, and commitment with which they execute the projects.
“We have set ambitious targets across every sector that include education, healthcare, infrastructure, technology, social services, and beyond. Achieving these targets requires not just passion, but a disciplined approach to project management,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Speaking on the workshop and its importance the governor emphasized that in his administration, project management is not a technical formality; but the backbone of effective governance, stressing that the projects his government initiate either big or small are the tangible outcomes of its policies.
Sanwo-Olu noted that when projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards, they reinforce the government’s credibility, strengthen public trust, and accelerate the transformation of the state.
He added further that the workshop is also an opportunity to engage with advanced strategies that will ensure projects are managed with precision and accountability, from initiation to completion.
Olusegun Sanwo-Olu, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Project Implementation and Monitoring, in his welcome address, reiterated the importance of adopting AI, to improve turnaround time while making data-driven decisions and monitoring the impact of policies & projects on Lagosians.
Sanwo-Olu noted that it is the collective responsibility of the stakeholders to ensure that the present and future of Lagos are anchored on strong governance, visionary leadership, and a shared desire to make a sustainable and positive impact on the lives of every Lagosian.
While highlighting areas for amendment, the Executive Assistant noted the need to improve and harmonize the state’s regulatory, compliance, and project monitoring activities, particularly in relation to contractors executing projects and Lagosians as key stakeholders. He explained that the goal is to ensure that the Government is perceived as a unified organization with a human-centered approach, adding, “Achieving this will require robust backend synergy between MDAs, enabling seamless access to and retrieval of data from a centralized repository.”
George Asamani, the Managing Director of Sub-Saharan Africa PMI Global, noted that there is an urgent call in Africa for the need to improve the continent’s project management capability to execute different initiatives across Africa.
He bemoaned that “despite the African great leaders with fantastic strategies and ideas, the final piece to move us forward is our execution capability and I believe we are still on the journey”.
Asamani said that the workshop will help position the state to move beyond the conventional governance model and the participants will have the ability to enhance the value delivered by the government projects and will eventually make a meaningful impact in the lives of Lagosians.
