LASG CALLS ON MEDIA PRACTITIONERS TO SET AGENDA FOR ITS SMART CITY INITIATIVE

The Lagos State Government has urged the media to consistently inspire the citizens to embrace the smart city initiative as the present administration is strategically improving its methods for the actualization of a smart Lagos City.

Speaking at a Public Lecture to commemorate the 2018 NUJ Lagos Information Press Week held at LTV Combo Hall, Ikeja, recently, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan said that the state government was aware that its smart city initiative must be all-encompassing and reflect the social and economic desire of its populace.

Bamigbetan stated that as the destination of the smart city keeps evolving all around the world, the Lagos State Government with its dynamic style of governance is deliberately exploiting all avenues to integrate residents of the State into the smart-city vision.

In his words, “A smart city is universally centred on the development of people and institutions that support social-economic progress. This is why the State Government is assiduously working towards bringing this to fruition through clear-cut policies, plans and programmes”.

In a paper presentation on the theme: “Communicating Development in an Emerging Smart City”, Prof. Akin Oyebode, a Professor of Law at the University of Lagos, stated that the social contract between the government and the governed becomes a meaningless except it brings about positive impact on existential situation in which the media has a role to play as an agent of progress, utilitarian impulses and interests.

“Any government that intends to achieve success in its plans, policies and programmes would be failing in its duty if it does not apprehend the necessity to solicit the support and collaboration of the mass media, especially in relation to a project as gigantic as the socio-economic and political transformation of Lagos from a mega-city to that of a smart city”, Oyebode stated.

While acknowledging the transformation efforts of the state government, the Lecturer said before a mega-city can be transformed into a smart city, there must be abundant evidence and the presence of Hi-Technologies that would assist in making life very comfortable to the citizens.

He added that practitioners of the mass media have a special role to play in ensuring the success and realization of this resolve, charging those behind this Smart-City vision to ensure the realization of this noble intention.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Chairman of the Chapel, Mr. Adewale Akodu said that as the state government takes a giant leap in joining the league of societies that are smart and technology-driven, it is pivotal to promote intellectual discourse on the practice of communication or journalism and expand the frontiers of knowledge among professionals and students alike who are the harbingers of government policies and programmes.

The Chairman posited that “The theme for this year’s discussion “Communicating Development in an Emerging Smart City” is quite apt as it focuses on the overarching goal of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, through the Lagos Smart City initiative, conceived to extend Dubai Knowledge Cluster Model to create a network of interconnected, self-sustaining, knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy.

While speaking on the essence of the periodic Public Lecture organized by the NUJ Chapel, the Chairman stated that “The programme has consistently provided the platform for Public Affairs Officers in the State Public Service to gain from the invaluable pool of knowledge of distinguished Lecturers and Discussants thereby providing an opportunity to sharpen members’ professional and intellectual bent as we strive to communicate the activities of the state government to the numerous stakeholders”.

The event also witnessed the launching of a book titled “Ambode: Three Years of Inclusive Governance”, which captured the giant strides of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, especially his all-inclusive and masses-friendly policies.