Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday expressed optimism that in no distant time, the state would produce its first elected female governor.
Governor Ambode spoke when he received the One-Day Governor, Miss Bukola Zuffon, and members of her cabinet at the Exco Chambers, Lagos House in Ikeja.
He said her emergence and that of the One-Day Deputy Governor, Miss Rosemary Ogidan, was a signpost to what the future portends for the state.
Zuffon, a 16-year-old SS 2 student of Awodiora Senior Secondary School, Ajegunle emerged one-day governor after she emerged the winner at a keenly contested Spelling Bee Competition in June 2017, while Ogidan, an SS 2 student of Methodist Senior High School, Badagry finished as first runner-up.
According to the governor, the emergence of two females as one-day governor and deputy governor of the state clearly indicates that a female can likewise be elected the governor of the state.
“This is a significant day for Lagos State and it also signals what the future actually holds for Lagos State in which we have seated here, two female strong members of the new state executive council and we have a female governor and a female deputy governor.
“It is also telling us a story about what the future of Lagos is all about that one day we would find seated here, not just a day governor, but for a period or tenure of four years, there would be a female governor in this state.
“We’ve had female deputy governors in this state; it also says something that these younger ones are telling our women in Lagos to rise up and actually take their position,” Ambode said.
In order to encourage their efforts, Governor Ambode awarded full scholarship to Zuffon and Ogidan while also announcing a cash donation of N1million each to them.
The governor also awarded a cash donation of N500,000 each to members of the one day governor’s cabinet consisting of Master Tovishede Ayobami (Secretary to the State Government); Master Philip Daniel (Speaker of the House of Assembly); Master Durojaiye Oluwasegun (Commissioner for Education); Master Atabo Ufedojo (Commissioner for Science and Technology).
Earlier, Miss Zuffon while addressing Ambode and members of the state executive council commended the governor for his visionary leadership and numerous achievements especially in the educational sector, saying that despite the economic challenges, teachers’ salaries and entitlements were being paid as at when due.
Zuffon, who is aspiring to become a lawyer, also seized the occasion to request for a school bus, renovation of the school’s multipurpose hall as well as construction of drainage channels in her school, which Governor Ambode expressly granted.
Wife of the Governor, Bolanle Ambode, also received Zuffon and her cabinet members, congratulating them for emerging winners in the various categories of the keenly contested competition and for doing their families, schools and local governments proud.
She charged them to remain focused and study harder to actualise their dreams, praying that God would take them to higher positions in life.
