Rasak Musbau
Selective perception is a perceptual process in which a person only perceives what he desires, while ignoring other viewpoints.
Basically, man’s experience impacts his selective perception. People screen out advertisements depending on their beliefs, attitudes, conditioning, habits, usage preferences and others.
In Nigeria, the perception of Lagos State varies from one individual to the other. Some see Lagos as a prime African economic model. In reality, this perception is not incorrect. From its technology hub ecosystem—Africa’s largest—to its successful banking sector and prosperous film industry, what shrewd entrepreneurs mostly see in Lagos are unlimited investment opportunities.
There are 31 tech hubs in Lagos. The value of innovative tech spaces to Lagos and African economies as a whole is massive. It is agreed that creating smart economies with technology-driven innovative solutions would lead to creation of new jobs that previously never existed.
Lagos is a fertile ground for flagging off innovations. It attracts corporate individuals and organisations that think outside the box. This is why the Lagos State government has resolved to build innovation and technology centres across the state to encourage more people with innovative ideas.
As oppose to critics who see Lagos population as a burden, ORide, a new on-demand motorbike hailing service is creatively latching on a peculiar need of Lagos residents to create jobs. The ORide service can be accessed in the OPay app currently on Android and IOS. Passengers are taking advantage of up to 90% discounts on fares during the current promo, off every trip. ORide is a solution to a myriad of transport challenges, particularly heavy traffic. The service offers flexible payment options including cash, card payment, and payment through the OPay app that allows riders to access promotional offerings.
In Nigeria, Lagos remains a veritable breeding ground for budding sporting talents. Most of the celebrated Nigerian sportsmen began their sporting tutelage in Lagos. Many of the national soccer sensations began their football career in Lagos State.
Lagos is also a hub for the promotion of culture and entertainment. Many young artistes have hit it big in Lagos. Rightly, boosting the State’s creative economy has been ingrained in the pillars of development of successive administrations in the recent years. Of course, the last five months, in particular, has been eventful in terms of drawing global attention to the state’s tourism potentials.
Significantly, Lagos is peaceful for business, work and fun. The state government has been encouraging various groups and communities in the society to dwell together in peace. This is part of what makes Lagos a mini-Nigeria.
Lagos is remarkable for empowerment of the residents. Within four months of the current administration, a sum of N4 billion was set aside as grant under the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) W-Initiative, through which about 794 women have been empowered with various sums of money.
To promote public health, a 110-bed Eti-Osa Mother and Child Centre (MCC) was recently as an integral part of activities commemorating the Sanwo-Olu administration’s 100 days in office. Another has just been delivered at Alimosho. This validates the current administration’s determination to ensure unhindered access to quality health care for all residents. Recall that a free medical initiative tagged “Healthy Bee Project”, a collaborative effort of the state government and a Non-Governmental Organization, BOSKOH Lagos Healthcare Mission International (HMI), recently took medical interventions nooks and crannies of the state.
The 4-week programme, which was aimed at addressing the lack of adequate medical care among citizens of the state, attended to critical medical needs of over 25,000 Lagosians. It is an all-inclusive health programme meant to accentuate the relevance of health in the THEMES Agenda of the present administration six pillars of development.
Presently, the state government is working hard towards the completion of more MCCs in the state. In particular, the Badagry and Epe MCCs are nearing completion.
Obviously, more roads in the state need to be urgently worked on. Government recognizes this and has assured that major road repair works will commence immediately the rainy season is over. This is to ensure that resources expended on the process are not wasted. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation has performed palliative and rehabilitation works on over 150 strategic roads across the State.
It is important to stress that public administration is about planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling of government operations. In the long-term, the priority of the state government to do things as and when appropriate will be rewarding for all Lagosians.
It was Yoga Berra who once said: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up somewhere else”. The destination of Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is towards the evolvement of greater Lagos. The administration, no doubt, has what it takes to take the state to destination greatness. It is, therefore, irrevocably committed to implementing various programmes to effectively actualize its THEMES agenda.
Musbau is of Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja
