By Abolaji Adebayo
As part of its effort in ensuring rapid infrastructural development and growth of core rural, riverine and rural communities in the State, Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment in partnering with Corporate Organisations with strong social responsibilities and budgets in providing various infrastructure to aid community development.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed disclosed this at a business luncheon with the theme: “Meeting 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Budgets to the Needs of Lagos State Communities”.
According to him, “the programme is aimed at galvanising Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, to improve social welfare in various communities, and set them on the path of modernity and continuous progress”.
The Commissioner noted that the Sanwo-Olu Administration, through its T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda, has prioritised and sustained infrastructural developments of the State, across all sectors.
“This is visible in the road network upgrade and inter-connectivity across the length and breadth of the State; adequate security of businesses, lives and properties of citizens in the State, street lighting projects; market rehabilitation; modernisation of industrial areas and central business districts, flexible and liberalised land and property acquisition process, among others; all partly aimed at the ease of doing business.”
Ahmed explained that the State has always enjoyed a steady flow of CSR initiatives from responsive and responsible corporate concerns, across sectors.
He however noted that the government would want a continuity of this kind gesture, hence the reason to examine and explore areas of mutual assistance, to get the communities in the State working better and faster, than they are currently doing.
He, therefore, urged participants at the Luncheon to come on board and examine how they can collaborate with the Government to improve the city landscape. specifically adopting various community projects as major Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, saying that, these adoptions could come with innovative aesthetics, physical development and environmental improvement, of adopted community projects, within the ability and capacity of the adopting organisation
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Affairs, Hon. Babatunde Adewale Jimoh explained that the programme is to engage Corporate Organisations on how to channel Corporate Social Responsibility Budgets to the needs of Communities in Lagos State and strategically engender social and economic development in the communities thereby contributing to the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of Making Lagos State a 21st Century Economy.
Similarly, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Communications in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan while giving his remarks informed that the Corporate Social Responsibility Luncheon was borne out of the need to engage corporate organisations in the State to contribute to the social development through their Corporate Social Responsibility efforts.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Lagos State Community Development Association Council (LSCDAC), Alhaji Azeez Amusat implored corporate organisations to consolidate the efforts of the State Government and the CDACs in the provision of facilities and infrastructure by adopting some of these developmental projects to make living convenient for members of the communities. He also assured that every CSR project executed by corporate organisations would be jealously guarded and meticulously used.
Present at the event were former Commissioner for Information and Strategy and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Communications in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mrs. Kikelomo Sanyaolu, Special Adviser to Mr Governor on Community Affairs, Hon. Babatunde Adewale Jimoh; Chairman, Lagos State Community Development Association Council (LSCDAC), Alhaji Azeez Amusat, Representatives of MTN; Dangote, Action-AID, Fidelity Bank and other corporate organisations.
