By Monsuru Olowoopejo
In a bid to sustain the tradition of rendering account of stewardship in Lagos during COVID-19, members of the state cabinet will spend remaining part of the month of May informing residents on what Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has done through each Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) to improve Lagosians standard of living.
Understanding that COVID-19 has limited physical gathering in the state, the Commissioners and Special Advisers to the governor will be appearing on different Covinspiration social media platforms for the rest of the month and will be moderated by a United Nation (UN) youth ambassador, Dayo Isreal, who will engage them in discussion on Sanwo-Olu’s administration ahead of his first year in office.
During the no holds barred programme scheduled for 5pm daily, the senior members of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration will be engaged by Israel on achievements recorded by the administration as it concerns their ministry, challenges experienced while striving daily to ensure actualization of set goals and plans the government has for the over 20 million residents of Lagos.
Also listed for engagement during the week-long event by the host, Israel, is Special Adviser to the President on Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Titi Adeyemi-Doro, a choice considered due to huge collaboration between the office and the state government on education and Senior pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo.
In an exclusive interview with The Guild, Israel, who is also a member of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), disclosed that decision to host the cabinet members on CovInspiration (Online) show was to ensure that the annual tradition of ministerial briefing, where cabinet members and heads of agencies render detailed accounts of how their office has been able to impact on Lagosians is sustained during COVID-19.
According to him, CovInspiration (Online) Chat-show was created as a novel and interesting platform for African families to spend their time productively during the global lockdown, and to spread encouragement and hope during COVID-19. It could be watch on www.facebook.com/
The SUBEB board member further disclosed that the novelty in the show was that it affords guest including the cabinet members the opportunity to stay within its comfort zone and speak with millions of viewers including those abroad on the plans the government has on improving welfare of Lagos residents.
“Unlike the physical ministerial briefing where the Pressmen were the only authorized person to ask questions, on this show, there is no preference, every question post to the guest stand a better chance of been picked; that is why everyone is equal on the platform.
“On this show, we believe that information is key for everyone as government needs hints from residents on activities within their neighbourhood, so must the government communicate to residents on the plans they have, how and when it would be done. And that is what CovInspiration (Online) Chat-Show also stand for”, the UN ambassador added.
Israel further hinted that the week-long interview has commenced with the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube and his Transportation counterpart, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who both revealed programmes the Sanwo-Olu administration will be embarking upon in another 365 days.
“For instance, Egube gave hints on what the government aimed to do after COVID-19 and Oladeinde revealed that the government would soon launch a mode of transportation for inner roads to replace commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada that have been banned in the state”.
He noted that before now, global influencers had come on the show to share their experiences and inspired everyone especially the younger generation who needed to be mentored to achieve their desired goal.
“The show has featured as Guests Profile speaker and Pan-Africanist Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Barbados Ambassador to the UN in General H.E Chad Blackman, former CNN Anchorz Isha Sesay, Hollywood Actor Hakeem Kae Kazeem, Zimbabwean Industrialist Busisa Moyo, British Bishop Wayne Malcolm, Kenyan MP John Paul Mwirigi and more, all inspiring audience to stay calm in the face of the pandemic and Imparting Wisdom.
“The highly watched talk show has also featured Other celebrities including Musicians – Pasuma, Ruggedman, Malaika, Saheed Osupa, Mike Abdul, Ice Prince, Lara George, Stella Damasus, Asiri Comedian, Laolu Gbenjo, Efe Lucky, and British Boxer, Larry Ekundayo and many others”, he added.
On why the show had continued to interview prominent personalities, Israel stated that CovInspiration is a response to the present pandemic and aimed to bringing voices and experiences across the globe together and help shape African perspectives.
“The show explores global and pan-African perspectives and solutions to some of the most important issues raised by the pandemic and help viewers especially Africans step back and share our diverse — yet collective — experiences toward charting a new future for the continent”.
