Press Releases

Fashola Calls For Diversification Of Nation’s Economy
• “Let us prepare for Nigeria without oil”, he says

Jun 2, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday stressed the need for Nigeria to begin to diversify her economy saying it is time to begin to think of a Nigeria without oil.

Governor Fashola who spoke in his office while playing host to family members of the nation’s first Minister of Information, late Chief TOS Benson who paid hin an Appreciation Visit at the State House, Ikeja, said the nation should be more proactive rather than reactive in response to the rapid investments being made the world over in search of alternatives to oil as an energy source.

According to him, “Nigeria should begin to look at the real economy that tourism represents, to begin to diversify our income and employment generation sources away from oil and all of the traditional areas, especially at a time when I see great challenges for oil”.

The Governor suggested the development of what he called a consistent six month Tourism and Cultural Festival Calendar for the country covering known festivals and Tourism destinations like the Eyo Festival in Lagos State, Ikogosi in Ekiti State, Olumo in Ogun State, and Yankari and Argungu festivals, adding that this will signify the nation’s readiness to begin to look at the real economic potentials that Tourism represents.

Commending the recently held Eyo Festival in Lagos in honour of late Chief TOS Benson as a trail blazer in this direction, Governor Fashola said “I think as a people, we must become proactive rather than reactive to prepare for Nigeria without oil as from today and if the Eyo Festival has sent a strong signal that Lagos is ready to lead that off, I think that we are proud to have been the pioneers in some measurable corporate terms of that signal”.

The Governor said the last Eyo Festival also sent a strong message that the Public Service is a noble service, adding that this was the message the State Government successfully sent out in honouring the late elder statesman and eminent Lagosian.

“It is important to reinforce the message as we begin to rediscover ourselves again and as we lay new charges for ourselves that public service is a noble service and that every life that is positively touched by public service will forever remember all of those who played some role in changing our lives”, he said.

Warning that nothing should be done to change the status and character of the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of the festival, Governor Fashola declared, “The venue is one that holds a long history and origins and character of the people of Lagos. It used to be a famous Race Course. It represents for us today what I believe Kwame Nkrumah Square in Ghana represents for the people of Ghana. It is not an edifice that will be likely dealt with lightly or indeed that must be sacrificed for commercial benefit or value. It is something intrinsically embedded in the telling of the story of the Nigerian nation. A very huge chapter of the history of Nigeria will be lost if the character of the Centre is ever to change whether in its use or ownership”.

On the Eyo Festival and the honour done to the late former Information Minister, Governor Fashola told Chief (Mrs. Opral Benson, his widow who led the delegation, “I think late Chief TOS Benson deserves all that. As a child, one of the things that stuck in my mind really about your very much publicized and flamboyant life with him is that your wedding was not just a wedding of two people but a wedding of two nations, uniting two sister African countries and I think the colour and energy of that day was not only a celebration of Papa’s time but a celebration of what you stood for – beauty, class and colour and full expression and celebration of life”.

He paid tribute to Mrs. Opral Benson for her great role in changing the face of fashion among Lagos and Nigerian women, adding, “Clearly the story of fashion among Nigerian women would not have been as it is today thanks to you”.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, Chief (Mrs.) Benson who was accompanied by some members of the family thanked Governor Fashola for the great honour done her late husband by the Festival which, according to her, was an international event.

“It is gratifying that our family was the recipient of the accolades of this highest honour in Yorubaland accorded to the memory of a deceased person. It was colourful, it was professionally organized and the style characterized your Lagos State on the move”, Lady Benson said.

Commending the internationalization of the event, she said, “There was positive reporting and it was being done in honour of Nigeria’s first Minister of Information. The whole world was told that”, adding, “Our guess was that this honour must have brought smiles on the face of the late first Minister of Information in his new life. Wherever he is, I could see him smiling and appreciating you”.

Also present during the visit were the Secretary to the State Government Princess Adenrele Adeniran Ogunsanya, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Tunde Balogun and the Chairman of the 2009 Eyo Planning Committee, Mr. Disun Holloway. The former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso and his wife, Abimbola Cardoso (Nee TOS Benson) as well as Mr. Segun Ibironke, the eldest grandson of the late TOS Benson were part of the family’s delegation.

The Family later presented an Award of Tourism and Culture to the Governor while also presenting him with samples of branded T-shirts made by a member of the family.