Jimi
Agbaje was born on March 2, 1957 in Lagos State.
In 1982,
Agbaje, a Pharmacist, founded his own company, JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and
Chemical Company Limited.
He was a
member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (1999 – 2006); National Secretary
of the Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (NAGPP) from 1987 –
1990; National Chairman NAGPP (1990 – 1993) and Chairman Pharmaceutical society
of Nigeria Lagos State (1994 – 1997).
Jimi
Agbaje also sits on the Board of other organizations including Oakwood Park
Ltd, Atlantic Hall Secondary School Epe, Jimi Agbaje Outreach (a project
dedicated to helping the less fortunate) and has served as business mentor at
Fate Foundation.....continue
Jimi Agbaje, in coming up with his
manifesto entitled: “Bold Ideas, New Opportunities”, posits Lagos can be better
managed than it is presently done.
Unveiling his manifesto recently, he
said that Lagos has been recognised by the vast number of residents to be in
bad shape.
Perhaps, this informed his decision
to embark on town hall meetings across the 20 local government areas of the
state.
Agbaje explained that his decision
to hold town hall meetings is to meet with artisans, market women, religious
leaders, community leaders and the youths “so that we can sit down with and get
their views on how to move this state forward.”
He has framed an eight point agenda
towards realising his vision for a better Lagos framed as SHELTER.
The key elements of the SHELTER plan
are Security, Health of the body and environment, E – Education and Youth
empowerment, L – Leadership and Governance, T – Transportation, E – Economic
empowerment and R – Residential Housing.
Flagship policies
For Agbaje, “the different aspects
of the SHELTER framework work together to ensure that our vision is achieved.
In every area of the framework, we have our flagship policies which we believe
will be catalysts for the dynamic change that will enable Lagos leapfrog
competitor cities in Nigeria and abroad.”
According to him, “the flagship
policies will be delivered effectively through our policy themes. We intend to
give the people value for money; build an efficient and dynamic economy for
today and the future; do things differently and effectively and; develop a
kinder more humane Lagos. These policies will have an effect on the key areas
of the economy.”
Picking holes in the APC-led
administration’s handling of the state, Agbaje noted the dismal performance of
the state in the education, healthcare, housing, youth empowerment and the
civil service sectors among others.
He also accused the Lagos State
government of failing to improve the education sector saying “education is the
key that provides access to opportunity – the evidence is irrefutable.
Therefore I am alarmed that after a decade and a half of administration by the
All Progressives Congress (APC), the overwhelming majority of our children
still do not pass WAEC exams.”
He vowed to make corrections in that
regard if voted into officer.
“Our Lagos will have the development
of our children and youth – across all ages – at the forefront. Basic education
will be free and of demonstrably high quality, matching the best standards in
the world. We will also ensure that within these four years all our children
attend and stay in school. They will achieve skills and knowledge driven by
current and future needs and demands of industry and the economy,” he said.
A pharmacist, Agbaje says he is
disturbed that Lagos still contends with inadequate health facilities.
In addition, he said “whilst we
remain a commercial and industrial hub, there is little doubt that our economy
can do a lot better. On-going expansion and upgrade of infrastructure must be
accelerated to enhance the competitiveness of our economy and ultimately the
creation of jobs for our people. The water resources of our State must be
harnessed to add the dimensions of an Ocean Economy to our current character.”
To further encourage investment in
the state and create employment, he promised that “entrepreneurial governance
will be the approach of the PDP Administration inaugurated in Lagos after the
forthcoming elections.
Monitoring of performance
Our approach is that while the government
will provide direction, determine priorities and monitor performance, the
private sector will, as far as possible, be charged with bringing our ideas to
life. Enlargement of the Private Sector in this way will create work for our
people and provide revenue to the government.”
As a way of improving the Civil
Service, Agbaje said “a PDP-led Administration in Lagos will work closely with
various communities and Civil Society groups to ensure rapid development of our
State. Ours will be an inclusive Administration, providing widespread access to
information about the processes, opportunities and developments in the
government – accountable to the people of Lagos for our every action and
omission.”
To ensure Lagos becomes safe,
law-abiding and conducive to all, he noted that his administration will ensure
the comfort and safety of all – visitors, residents and indigenes, adding that
“to enable us all successfully pursue our legitimate ambitions, we will
continue to strengthen our judiciary and capacity of law enforcement in order
to restore respect for law and order.”
Recalling how the late sage, Chief
Obafemi Awolowo governed the old Wester Region of the country, Agbaje said he
is optimistic that his administration will prove critics wrong.
“For those who are doubtful that the
kind of long-lasting change towards which we will work can be achieved in 4
years – the example of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s government in the old Western
Nigeria is instructive. Much of the unique and foundational developments were achieved
in slightly over 4 years”, he stated.
While he called on the electorates
to support him in his quest of governing the state, he promised to pursue state
policies that are people friendly and are always for the benefit of the people
and the State.
While he vowed to pursue sustainable
development that focuses on the needs of Lagos as a megacity today and the
future, he said “all projects must have clear, achievable goals and are
monitored from inception to completion. Citizens resources to be used efficiently
and transparently with full accountability to the people Value for money Doing
things differently and effectively A kinder more humane Lagos Build an
efficient and dynamic economy for today and the future.”
Agbaje’s
key policy themes
Citizens’
resources to be used efficiently and transparently with full accountability to
the people
All
projects must have clear, achievable goals and are monitored from inception to
completion
Value
for money, doing things differently and effectively
Build
an efficient and dynamic economy for today and the future
A
kinder, more humane Lagos
Sustainable
development that focuses on the needs of Lagos as a megacity today and in the
future
State policies that are people
friendly and are always for the benefit of the people and the state
