By Cyriacus Nnaji
Chief Tunde Fanimokun, Philanthropist and Development Economist, a mentee of the former civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, has pledged a whopping sum of N18 billion for the development of the Lagos State University (LASU)
Fanimokun made the disclosure while speaking as the Distinguished Personality Lecturer at the institution in Ojo, Lagos State on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The theme of the lecture was, “The Practicability of incorruptibility under a democratic dispensation, given a good leader: A case study of Jakande, the Legend”
Fanimokun who extolled the good work of the Vice Chancellor Prof f LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, spoke on the motivation behind his donation. “One of the biggest thing Jakande did is the establishment of this great university. When I see the wonderful things your VC is doing I said I will fully support her, I came in here to do one or two things but your VC turned it to seven things for me. If my planning committee is right, I am committing a total of N18 billion to the Lagos State University (LASU).”
Fanimokun listed 20 bullet points to extol the virtues and outstanding characteristics of his boss and mentor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande which stood him out both as a person and as the governor of Lagos State. He disclosed that Alhaji Lateef Jakande was not only an apostle of free education in line with Awolowo School of Thought, he was also an apostle of the philosophy of the GGGN (greatest good of the greatest number) of the people in public service, an epitome of exemplary leadership and leadership by example, a reference point of entrepreneurship in the public sector.
Speaking further he said Jakande is favourable about the secret of success as consistency of purpose from conception to completion, stressing his insatiable passion for audacious dream projects as a POSSIBILITARIAN. He praised Jakande’s innovative creation of 23 new local government councils, from 8 in Lagos State1980, vide Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 38 vol. 12, dated December 20, 1979.
He said Jakande was an advocate of the mass transit as the ultimate solution to Lagos Traffic Chaos since 1980s, an advocate of sustainable development, since there is no end to prosperity, an advocate that land is gold in Lagos vide his land policy of the new order 1980.
He added that, Jakande was the facilitator of the precious Osborne Foreshore Estate (OFE) Ikoyi, Lagos, 1983, the godfather of the iconic Banana Island, Ikoyi, 1984, he was the creator of the Ikoyi Foreshore Estate (IFE)Lagos, including the Parkview Estate Extension, (JABITA) etc.
He was the initiator of “Lagos as an Oil Producing State” in Nigeria. The master builder of the Low Cost and Medium Income Houses, the master builder of the LPDS (Lekki Peninsula Development Scheme) Axis specifically for “sustainable development” since 1980s. He was also an advocate of Balancing the Budget instead of Deficit Financing & the Debit Burden Trap in development planning.
Fanimokun revealed further that Alhaji Lateef Jakande was the founding father of LASU. And lastly he saw Alhaji Lateef Jakande as “Our model of anti corruption crusade in Nigeria.”
Fanimokun who decried the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria said Nigeria is sinking and it is sinking fast, “If what I am hearing is correct, minimum salary is N70000, but we have a situation where a national assembly member is collecting the sun of N21 million a month, the inequality is too wide.”
Speaking on what he felt was the problem with Nigeria, he mentioned Excess dependence on oil and gas revenue; gross neglect of the agric sector, import dependence orientation, decline rate of the naira exchange value, increasing rate of inflation, youth employment, brain drain, cost of governance, money politics, pandemic global disruption since 2019, absence of power, the key to prosperity and visionary leadership vacuum.
He further noted other anti development issues like endemic/systemic corruption, national housing deficit, population explosion, challenges of urbanization process, falling standard of quality education, inadequate health services,
widespread insecurity and lack of development model matrix.
He therefore recommended that to successfully fight corruption in Nigeria, there is need to emulate the life of Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Fanimokun who said he is working to bring something similar to silicon valley to Nigeria so that Nigerian youths will have something to do, maintained that in Nigeria, the authorities only pay lip service to the fight against corruption, and decried what he called institutionalized corruption, a situation where institutions that should be in forefront of good governance are themselves deep in corruption.
In the end he said Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the legend, is strongly recommended as the symbol and role model of the new crusade against corruption in Nigeria. He said “Of interest to all public office holders and aspirants must be how Jakande used the annual budget as an effective tool of management, for fiscal discipline, financial prudence and full compliance with the prescribed rules and regulations. He was involved and fully in charge of coordination of the entire administrative system.
“His effective and regular monitoring devices remain instructive for ensuring success in public administration without any blemish. In addition Jakande demonstrated decisiveness of action as inevitable in the treatment of all cases of fraud, semblance of misappropriation, or tendency towards graft or embezzlement.
“At every level of the administration of the Jakande Regime, budget implementation was a standard antidote for end of year rush for any unspent balances.”
Chief Tunde Fanimokun who till date remains life director of Folawiyo organisation said Jakande when he was governor did not take security vote, he rode in his car, he did not travel outside the country for the four years and three months he was governor, he was indeed incorruptible,” he said
He said “Under Jakande, that was one of the golden rules, deadlines were actually predetermined for processing of payment vouchers by the Treasury. There was no room for diversion of funds. All these anti corruption measures are strongly recommended along with his other legacies for the retention and sustenance in our public sector.”
