27 speakers deliver on ‘thoughts for a better Lagos: Action points’

Celebrated in thousands of Speech Giving events around the globe, World Speech Day Lagos was marked on 15 March 2017 themed “Thoughts for a Better Lagos: Action Points, organised by Florence Olumodimu, founder/principal consultant of Developers Network.”

There were 15 events across Nigeria and four in Lagos. The following captures some of the thoughts and action points delivered by some of the speakers. There were 27 speakers who shared their ‘Thoughts for a Better Lagos’ and these professionals are ready to devise implementation strategies with the Lagos State Government for a sustainable future.

It is worthy of note to state what follows below is a synthesis of the speeches and conversations of professionals and experts from all works of life during the just concluded World Speech Day on March 15. The names of speakers have been withheld.

We advocate transparency and accountability in Governance with an inclusion of an active online portal where all citizens can monitor all projects and activities going on in the state, budget allocation and disbursement. The portal should also be a one stop shop e-commerce platform for state services that citizens can access and pay for.

The State should ensure reduced inequality and inclusiveness for all citizens of the state.

We advocate quality assurance and structure in institutions such as the educational institutions of Lagos. The students in Eti-Osa should get the same standard of education across all areas of the state.

We should be mindful of our environment and not dump refuse anywhere, thus let us heighten the sense of sanitary awareness and environmental protection. Ensure reduced inequality with the institutionalisation of standards for capacity building, vocation and activities for a sustainable Lagos.

We call for a policy to standardise and institutionalise apprenticeships and vocational skills to close the skills gap in achieving decent work life in the state and reducing poverty and increasing employability and social transformation.

We advocate the provision of public policy to institutionalise volunteerism. Policy to encourage and reward people who volunteer their time, resources, and skills to community causes within the state as this will aid in bridging the skills gap and other areas where there is a deficit.

Corporate organisations based in Lagos State should be more involved in community service. Policy will mandate Human Resource Professionals in Corporate organisations to recognise periods people volunteer in their CVs;Corporate organisations can also do more by encouraging their personnel to contribute a few hours to community service within the communities they operate.

We push that Lagos as a flagship State in the nation should lobby other states governments to increase their efforts in reducing the menace of domestic and sexual violence to attain a peaceful nation.

The State Government should strengthen Community Collaborations and Development efforts.

Government should activate the Tourism and cultural heritage of Lagos through public private partnerships to open up economic opportunities to advance economic prosperity.

We advocate the creation of a Community Enterprise and Job Centre across the Local Government Areas (LGA) and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across Lagos to facilitate rapid job creation, business development, and economic empowerment. Positive attitude can enhance your health.

Every citizen should be conscious of what they are and leverage it. The citizens of Lagos must speak with one voice for change.

Florence Olumodimu, Licensee and Organiser, World Speech Day Lagos and founder/principal consultant of Developers Network.

Florence Atunwa Olumodimu