By OLUWOLE FAROTIMI
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), is by all standards one of the most outstanding governors in Nigeria whose achievements speak volumes about his visionary leadership.
It is said that behind every successful man is a woman. But for Fashola you can justifiably stretch this axiom and say that 'behind successful Babatunde Raji (okay, BRF) there are women."
BRF, as Lagosians fondly refer to their hard working governor, is surrounded by very influential women with high IQ and administrative acumen, who are running with his vision to turn Lagos into a mega city. When the Lagos Executive Council meets, the interior of the council chambers becomes suffuced with a unique blend of their perfumes that even the most talented fragrance designers in Paris cannot create.
When these women speak, you know they have a lot to offer to the society. This week EXPLORE brings you these women who call the shots in the state that prides itself as the Centre of Excellence. Excerpts...
Adejoke-Orelope Adefulire:
Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire is Lagos State Deputy Governor. An administrator par excellence, she directly supervises the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, where she made her mark as commissioner for years. Due to her performance in WAPA coupled with her pedigree as a grassroots political heavyweight that has the magic wand for mobilizing women, it was therefore not surprising when the powers that be in Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) tipped her as deputy governor for the second tenure of Governor Fashola's administration due to her track record as a transformational achiever. She has since assumed that position in the Lagos State cabinet. The politician and princess of a royal family in Lagos State was born on September 29, 1959. Though, simple in outlook, and self-effacing in her interactions, she has a long history of great achievements through her passion, commitment and dedication to public service.
Orelope-Adefulire has over two decades experience in politics and has helped to ensure that government policies are taken and accepted at the grassroots without resistance from the masses, as she normally returns to her constituency to share thoughts with her people thus drawing inspiration from her father who was one of the staunch Awoists in his active political days.
Her election as member of the Lagos State House of Assembly in the Third Republic when she represented Alimosho Constituency 1 between 1991 and 1993 also helped the Fashola administration to maintain a robust relationship with the legislative arm of government.
Informed sources also traced successive electoral victories in the state to her political sagacity, having been appointed electoral commissioner in Lagos by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) in 1999, a position she held until 2003 when she was appointed Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is on record that Orelope-Adefulire was the first to introduce skills acquisition training programmes for unemployed youths in Lagos State. Her passion for youth development led to the establishment of 17 skills acquisition training centres in Lagos State, which she started in 2004. About 9,000 beneficiaries graduate annually from the centres.
Her commitment to women development and belief in economic empowerment for women to reduce the incidence of domestic violence facilitated the grassroots women vocational training programme, cooperative formation and medical examination for women.
The political Amazon whose influence cuts across every sphere of the state's political structure is an advocate of child survival, protection and development in the state. In recognition of her outstanding service to humanity, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has received several awards locally and internationally. She was awarded the International Public Servant of the Year 2007 by the Scottish Widows, a UK-based NGO. She also bagged the Lagos State Man of the Year Award in 2009. She received the Daisey George Award 2010 in the USA as an advocate of children protection and development. She is also a recipient of the Guinness Book of World Records for the most children reading aloud with an adult at a single location, which she achieved while reading with 4,222 school children in 2011.
Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire is a member of the Lagos Legislators' Forum, member of Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN), Lagos State, as well as Association of Lagos State Indigenes (ALSI).
She is a graduate of Social Work from the Lagos State University and is married to Mr. Claudius Abiodun Adefulire. They are blessed with children.
She enjoys reading, networking and listening to music.
Mrs Olusola Oworu:
Olusola Adetoun Oworu is the Commissioner for Commerce, Lagos State. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1985 and has spent her entire working life in the Banking and Finance industry. She has brought this experience to bear while working as Special Adviser on matters affecting commerce and subsequently commissioner in Governor Babatunde Fashola's administration.
Informed sources have traced Olusola's influence in the administration to her vibrant contributions to the state government's decision-making process, made possible by her wealth of experience over the years in building effective relationship with diverse groups. This experience also paid off when she pioneered development of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ). She was born February 29, 1960, and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Mrs Oluranti Adebule:
Mrs Oluaranti Adebule is Secretary to the Lagos State Government. A renowned academic, she was formerly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and now one of the brilliant and articulate new breed politicians the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) threw up to breathe fresh air into its party in the state. When she joined the Babatunde Fashola administration, she brought her wealth of experience and knowledge from the ivory tower to bear on her job. Unlike other government officials who are carried away by the paraphernalia of office, Adebule comports herself and concentrates on her duties for effective service delivery to the state government. Born on 27 November, 1970, she holds M.ED (Curriculum Studies) Lagos State University (LASU) 1997, BA.ED (Islamic Studies), LASU 1992. She worked as lecturer at the faculty of education, LASU, member, defunct Teaching Service Commission and board member of Lagos State Scholarship Board.
Dr Yewande Adesina:
Dr Yewande Olaseni Animashaun-Adesina is the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Health Matters. Her influence in the present administration is by no means due to good luck but hard work. She is a respected medical practitioner within and outside the country and her views on issues, especially as it relates to health matters makes hers a respected voice in the Fashola administration.
Born on November 4, 1963, in Lagos, Yewande bagged her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Ibadan in 1987 and thereafter did her internship and youth service at the then Ikeja General Hospital (now Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) and the Nigerian Police Medical Services, Falomo, respectively, between 1987 and 1989. She had her postgraduate training in Family Practice Residency at the Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Dr Animashaun-Adesina's career goal particularly in "the changing and challenging world of health care and its management" is to offer comprehensive, high quality health care services to patients with excellent medical facilities."
Her "ultimate goal includes the profound improvements in the policies that affect quality of life and patient care through implementation of standardized high quality medical principles and etiquette, focusing on preventive rather than curative medicine."
Adesina, who has excellent oral, written and clinical communication skills, is knowledgeable in current general guidelines of health management and policies; she has extensive competence in counseling and health promotions with the ability to design visual aids, patient education materials and health education programmes to improve health awareness; she is experienced in practice management with special interests in health reform, organizational growth and excellence in healthcare delivery; as well as proven ability to work independently and with other people at all levels of health services and other agencies.
She has garnered extensive work experience at various workplaces both at home and abroad, including Consultants for Health Care Services Limited, Surulere, Lagos; Reddington Hospital and Multi-specialist Centre, Ikeja, Lagos; FHCW-Ft Belvoir Military Hospital, Woodbridge, Virginia, USA; Fair Lakes Urgent Care, Fake Lakes, Virginia, USA; Nova Medical Group, Warrenton, Virginia, USA; Prince William Health Department, Woodbridge, Virginia, USA; Fairfax County Health Department, Fairfax, Virginia, USA; US Coast Guard Health Services, Washington D.C, USA; U.S. Army Dewitt Community Hospital, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, USA; Alexandria Health Care Centre, Alexandria, Virginia, USA; V. A. Medical Center, Salem, Virginia, USA; Social Security Administration Clinic, Falls Church, Virginia, USA; International Medical Check-up Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos; and Duro Soleye Hospital, Allen Avenue, Lagos.
Mrs. Aderinola Disu:
Mrs. Aderinola Disu is Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business District. She is a lawyer by training and brings this to bear on her portfolio. She was outstanding as local government chairman of Lagos West Local Government given the transformation of the area during her tenure. Born February 23, 1954, she worked with Dele Ogedengbe & Co. between 1978 and 1986 and T.A. Braithwaite (Insurance Brokers) between 1986 and 2010.
Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye:
Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye is Lagos State Commissioner for Education. She can hardly go unrecognized among Lagos State executive cabinet members. Her major asset is her ability to articulate education policies and see to the smooth implementation of the policies.
Born May 6, 1959, she is well read with BA (Hons) degree, a Bachelor of Law (LLB), and a Master's degree. She is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB).
Via: Sun News Online