The legacies of late Lagos state former Governor Lateef Jakande, a veteran journalist and astute politician, were highlighted yesterday amidst a strident call for the renaming of Lagos State University (LASU) after him .

Stakeholders at the third annual Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos, were effusive in commending the times and life of the former governor who was at the helms of affairs of the state between 1979 and 1983 and had LASU as one of his enduring legacies during his tenure.

The keynote address of the lecture (third in the series), with the theme: “Journalism and the Challenge of Nation-Building in a Multi-Ethnic Society”, was delivered by the Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who was ably represented by his Chief of Staff, Aminu Hassan Gemawa.

The governor commended Alhaji Jakande for administering Lagos state transparently and impacting positively through his people-oriented policies.
The Bauchi state governor added that Jakande’s service under the Abacha government came about due to his belief in ‘service to Nigerians, despite the challenging circumstances’.
Mohammed advised the media to promote unity and transcend ethnic and religious sentiments in a manner that would enhance “truth over tribe”.

Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, in her remarks at the occasion, said it would be a befitting honour to the former governor if one of his ‘legacy projects’ was named after him, because of his valuable impact as governor.

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Lai Olorede, commended Jakande’s approach to governance. “When Alhaji Jakande was the governor of Lagos State, he never asked anybody, where are you from? All Alhaji was doing was to deal with the public and groups in society, regardless of religion, regardless of your ethnicity,” he said.

Other notable speakers at the event were NGE President Eze Anaba, ; Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga; former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina; former Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper, Emeka Ezeze; former Osun State Commissioner for Information, Funke Egbemode; and Managing Director of Punch Newspaper, Joseph Adeyeye.

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