Adeseye… An Indomitable Firefighter

Margaret Abimbola Adeseye is one of the shinning lights in the country’s public service. She is not only a resourceful firefighter, she is making positive impact in the male-dominated profession.

The go-getter is driving her commitment and diligence with hard work and professionalism. Her appointment as the first female Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service did not come as a surprise to many of her colleagues in the safety profession who have always admired her competence; it was a confirmation of her work ethics.

Born March 21, 1976, she began her career in Lagos Fire Service as a recruit fire man in training on GL 04. She was enlisted to the then Lagos State Fire Service on January 18, 1995, however, little did she know that she would one day head the Fire Institution: And has done so to with great efficiency and effectiveness.

In a few years, Lagos State Fire Service under her leadership as the Director has recorded remarkable success stories.

In the course of her selfless career, she obtained Basic and Advance Certificates in Professional Fireman Competency and Higher Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety from the Federal College of Education, Technical, Akoka, Lagos. Adeseye also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Lagos State University, and subsequently, attained a master’s degree in Disaster Management at the University of Lagos, Course 51 member of the Policy, Strategic and Leadership of the prestigious National Institute of Strategic Study, Kuru, Plateau State as well as International Disaster Management Certificate from the Bournemouth University, United Kingdom.

In 2019, Adeseye, an indomitable woman, who is leading men to conquer, was honoured with Life Saving Award for Exemplary Leadership in Fire Safety from the prestigious 9ja Safe.

Same year, she was equally honoured with AfriSafe Awards for Excellence by one of Africa’s foremost Safety outfit, HSENation.

In 2020, it was Excellent Leadership Award from the Fight Against Corruption Organisation and ‘Eni awokose ile odule’ (the Torch Bearer) by the Yoruba South West Youth.

Also, she was named Outstanding Progressive Woman in Public Service in the year 2021 from Outstanding Women in Africa Awards (OWAA) as well as Firefighter Iconic Woman of the Year, 2023 by National Association of Online Security News Publishers’ SafERR Africa.

In the course of her illustrious career, she was bestowed the Excellence Award of Nigerian Firefighter of 2023 by IgbereNews and has been a Fellow, Emergency, Crisis and Risk Management Institute/. She is also a member of the Fire Protection Association of Nigeria and Presidential Member, National Society of Leadership and Success, USA, among others.

The Guardian Newspaper has recognised Adeseye, among others national figure, as being a ‘resourceful Firefighter who is putting vision to work’ at the helms of affairs of a male dominated field.

This does not preclude, over 500 appreciation and commendation letters for prompt response to emergencies from public and private establishments and institutions which includes; the late President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR); Ms. Omobola Johnson, former Minister of Communication, Nigeria; former MD, Polaris Bank PLC; Guinness Plc; Friesland Wamco; Balogun Market; Sasanik Nigeria Limited; 11 PLC, formerly Mobil; West African Examination Council, WAEC; Sunflag Nigeria Limited; Transmission Company of Nigeria; etc.

She became Chief Fire Officer on July 1, 2019 and subsequently appointed as the Acting Director of the Service.
Given her sterling performance including the achievements of the once eluded agency status, amongst others, she was confirmed the first female and eight Director of the Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service on April 5, 2021. She is currently the Chairperson, States’ Fire Directors/Chiefs in Nigeria.

To Adeseye’s credit and visionary output is the earning of once-elusive Agency status for the hitherto department.

To improve the quality of service delivery across the state, there has been increase in numbers of fire stations with the taking over of the fire ssection at the Emergency & Security Regional Dispatch Centre, Epe; as well as ongoing construction of two additional fire stations in Ajegunle-Apapa and Ebute Elefun, Lagos Island.

She also facilitated the construction of 10 new Fire Stations with five under construction, as well as the renovation of 14 existing ones.

She equally superintended 535 new recruits trained and equipped as professional firefighters under her watch.
She Initiated and implemented the procurement of over 62 fire apparatuses of various brands and promoted both local and international training opportunities.

Significantly she has improved the welfare of firefighters with the introduction of Shift and Uniform Maintenance Allowances, improved hazard payment among others.

Adeseye earned the provision of a fuel dump, heavy and light-duty tools to enhance operational efficiency including forklift for her agency and initiated and implemented the provision of fuel dump, heavy and light duty tools including Fork-lift to enhance operational efficiency.

The woman, the first female Chairperson of the Association of State Fire Chiefs/Directors, which she is, till date, equally facilitated the construction of an ultra-modern workshop to cater for the fleets of apparatuses and hosted Lagos International Fire Safety Conference being the first of its kind in West Africa.

Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, nee Onabajo, is happily married and has children.

Olajide Abiodun Babatunde: Driving Lagos Smart City Digitalisation

FONDLY called OAB by those very close to him, Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde is a very meticulous and innovative leader.

As a technocrat, he served as a Personal Assistant to the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and later as a Special Assistant on Land Matters to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai when he was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At a time, he was a consultant to the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Matters.

Babatunde is a man of ideas and could multitask. His current role of overseeing the affairs of two agencies (LASBCA & LASURA) and two core departments (Urban Development (UD), and Physical Planning and Automated Department (PPAD) is a testament of using his ingenuity to manage difficult situations and proffer solutions.

With a first degree in urban and regional planning from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, OAB sets out to work and later had a master’s in land administration and geographic information from Swede Survey AB, Sweden; another master’s in development administration and planning from University College, London; and a PhD in development planning. He also equipped himself with other qualifications, including a diploma in public policy with particular emphasis on leadership decision making from Havard Kennedy School of Government, Massachusetts.

Dr Babatunde’s appointment into the cabinet of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to pilot the implementation of the Enterprise Geographic Information Service (e-GIS) in the state, is indeed, appropriate. His appointment could be likened to putting a round peg in a round hole.

Babatunde, the tech savvy wonderboy, is also to drive the digitisation process of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as well as its agencies. Operating at this level would enable him to apply his knowledge to make Lagos a true smart city.

Some of his achievements under the current Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are the successful coordination of many digitisation projects in the built environment, including the Lagos/EPPPS platform, ETranzact/LASPEMA Automation project and the Lagos State Digital Mapping and Spatial Data Infrastructure project.
He has also successfully established e-GIS project units in 10 MDAs, established LASPIC Museum, launched the Lagos MPP&UD Mobile App as well as the Lagos State Land Administration Portal.

Through his knowledge of Lagos terrain, he successful relocated saw millers from Oko-Baba to the purpose-built Timberville, Agbowa-Ikosi.
The Lagos Wonderboy facilitated the kick-off of the SPV that resulted into the Alaba Transnational Market, and also the launch of the Lagos Digital Addressing System.

Currently, he is concluding the construction of the first Land Archive in Lagos State and the multi-level LAGIS building.

As the saying goes, the prize for hard work is more work; so, Babatunde has got multiples of them. At various times, he had served as Vice President, Campus Director, and Director (Development) at the Nelson Mandela Institute (NMI).

Outside work, boardroom politics and meetings, Babatunde is a lover and collector of art works, and also the patron to different charity organisations, including the Ibadan Music Society of Nigeria (IMUSON), Dosu Babatunde Foundation (DBF) and Olajide Abiodun Babatunde Foundation (OABF).

Tamuno… The Trailblazing Ambassador

Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, Group Managing Director/CEO Abuja Investment Company Limited
Ambassador Maureen Tamuno is the Group Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL). Her career has traversed private, public and the diplomatic sectors spanning over three decades.
Quite early in her political journey, she saw how women like the late Hajiya Layla Dogonyaro, Her Excellency Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Justice Mary Odili (Rtd) drive the process of getting women involved in politics rather than take the back seat as was the case then.

“I would specially thank my boss, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, for finding me worthy to serve in this capacity and be part of the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”

Early in life, she joined the Junior Chambers International whose mission is to groom young people into becoming a foremost global network of young leaders. She learnt quite early the benefits of leadership development opportunities that inspired her towards creating opportunities for empowering young people for growth.

“I have served in various positions during my career, first as an entrepreneur in my early years from Kaduna in the oil and gas and hospitality sector to when I ventured into politics/public sector. I was a member of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Board between 2005 and 2007. During my time on the board, we initiated the set up of radar coverage for Lagos and Abuja airspace among other things. I was, thereafter, elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly and served from June 2007 to June 2011, where I chaired the House Committee on Education and among other achievements in the House and saw to the passage of the bill that converted the Rivers State College of Education into the current Ignatus Ajuru University of Education.”

While in the House of Assembly, she was elected Nigerian representative on the Women Parliamentary Association in 2009 to 2011. This was a huge responsibility, which she handled with passion and determination.

In her constituency, she nominated quite a number of projects that had impact on the people including Town Halls/Centers in Bolo Town and Wakama communities, Multipurpose Community Centre in Ogu Town, Community Water Project in all the communities within the entire council, facilitated the construction of the bridge connecting Bolo Town to the rest of the state through the State Government to mention a few.

In 2011, she was elected the very first Female Chairman of Local Government Council in Rivers State, a position she held until 2014. As Executive Chairman of Council, she funded the connection of Bolo Town to National Grid traversing an 11km distance through neighbouring towns.

She also built the administrative block of the Local Government Council Secretariat and many other projects. She later contested for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives to represent Okrika/OguBolo Federal Constituency during the 2015 and 2018 General Elections. The election was very keenly contested but she lost.

This loss did not deter her from pursuing her dream in public service. She was appointed to serve on the Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 2018, where she served until 2020 when she was appointed by the then President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s Ambassador and High Commissioner with concurrent accreditation to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Belize and Haiti and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative on the International Seabed Authority (ISA) until October 2023.

She took over the role of GMD/CEO a little over a year ago and the experience has been amazing. One of the major areas of innovation that can complement the massive infrastructure projects that the government is embarking upon is the creation of a business framework that will drive both foreign and domestic investment as well as harnessing an IT-driven approach to public sector business development. The population growth rate of the FCT is massive and a huge part of this growth is amongst the Youth population, many of whom want to express themselves in IT and modern technology.

“My mantra has always been to make impact in whatever role that I’m called upon to undertake in both public and private sectors. AICL has a group of dedicated staff who I have partnered with to bring about the several innovative solutions to business management that I have come up with. With a team of dedicated staff, I have so far been able to bring about positive changes in the way business is conducted in the company. I became the first GMD/CEO to create a pathway to achieving successes that had been seen as impossible since the creation of the company. A few of these feats are accessing the Abuja Film Village property and getting Ministerial Approval for the mapping of the entire property spanning over 3,000 Hectares, creating the roadmap for the revolutionalisation of the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company by seeking ways to introduce technology driven services and harnessing the potentials that abound in private sector partnerships within the transportation infrastructure and value chain. In the area of real estate, we are embarking on several high, medium and low income brackets projects.”

Over the years, she has received the following awards. Diplomatic Excellence Awards, where she was honoured for outstanding service as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Belize, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, where she championed stronger bilateral relations, cultural diplomacy, and investment partnerships.
Ambassador Maureen Tamuno has authored several academic publications and cultural/motivational books. She has also won the Community Leadership Awards, where she was recognised by various organisations and institutions for impactful leadership, women empowerment initiatives, and youth mentorship.

She has also been conferred with the prestigious title of Yeye Folagboyero of Owo Kingdom, in acknowledgment of contributions to cultural heritage and community development.
She has also bagged multiple awards for innovation, leadership in governance, and advancing investment opportunities in Abuja and beyond.

Her advice to young and upcoming leaders is for them to be Purpose-Driven Leaders, prioritize service and vision over personal gain. Upholding Integrity and Accountability. Recognition is earned when transparency, ethical conduct, and measurable results define you as a leader. Youth Mentorship, Investing in young people ensures a pipeline of innovative, ethical, and forward-thinking leaders for a virile society. Collaboration and Inclusiveness, building bridges across political, ethnic, and gender lines strengthens national development. Continuous Learning and Adaptability is a powerful tool for Leaders who embrace knowledge, remain innovative, and provide solutions. Ultimately, true leadership is not about pursuing awards but about impact, service, and leaving a lasting legacy. When leaders positively transform lives and uplift communities, recognition follows naturally.

Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye… Providing Visionary, Courageous Leadership

Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, (Ph.D), a Professor of Health Education, is the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, with a Campus @ Odo-Noforija, Epe. Lagos State, Nigeria.
Before this appointment, Prof. Lafiaji-Okuneye was appointed as Provost of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, with a mandate to develop and prepare Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education for transmutation into a university.

Therefore, with a clear vision and ready mind, she embarked on a transformative journey to elevate the institution to a university status. She smartly deployed the leadership style that was marked by intellect, courage, purposeful direction, and an unyielding dedication to achieving preselected objectives.

Intellectually, Prof. Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye possesses a profound understanding of educational dynamics and the strategic foresight necessary for institution-building. Her strategic initiatives reflect a deep comprehension of the challenges and opportunities inherent in educational development, enabling her to implement innovative solutions effectively. Armed with a clear vision, she hit the ground running with great operational innovations, infrastructural facilities renewal, and welfare of staff and students.

It was the target of her administration to make the college the flagship of teachers’ colleges and the nucleus of modern teacher education service delivery in the country. The administration was poised to putting the College in the fore front of efforts towards expanding access to Higher Education for the millions of people in Lagos State, Nigeria and beyond.

The erudite scholar believed that this would make a wholesome difference in the effort to give the citizens unique opportunities and capacity building through acquisition of the right skills to compete globally.

Consequently, armed with strong determination and, rising above trivial generalities, the administration gallantly recorded an enviable result within the short time that it took the mantle of leadership.

Prof. Lafiaji-Okuneye was quick to understand that government alone cannot go the business of education. She strongly believed that synergising government’s support with interventions from privileged organisations and affluent Nigerians is about the best failsafe strategy to securing improved teacher education in the country.

This belief underscores the total commitment of her leadership to series of activities that are capable of attracting suitable social interventions. The conviction also suffices the explanation of the Management’s effective monitoring of the CSR initiatives in the college and its resilience in spurring the donors to complete the projects on time.
Significantly, all of these efforts proved worthwhile. The number of completed corporate social responsibility projects in the College was monumental and include a 250-seater lecture theatre embarked upon by a consortium of Insurance companies that include Credo Insurance Brokers Ltd, Industrial and General Insurance Plc; LASACO Assurance Plc and Cristal Hope Insurance Brokers Ltd; the Library Extension donated by the National Productivity Centre, Abuja through the instrumentality of Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yaayi), Senator, representing Senator for Ogun West since 2023; a 250-seater lecture theatre donated by Oloto of Oto-Awori Kingdom, Oba Josiah Ilemobade Aina (Kuyamiku I);a befitting Entrance Gate, and an ultra-modern relaxation park donated by the Oniba-Ekun of Iba Land, Oba Dr. Sulaiman Adeshina Raji-Ashade (Ilufemiloye I).

Other donations include an appreciable number of furniture donated by an alumnus of the College, Dr. Rotimi Oladele; Internet (Wi-Fi) donated by Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, then Speaker, House of Representatives.
In just one year of operation, due to the courage, hard work, determination, commitment and purposeful leadership of Lafiaji-Okuneye, the college was readily transmuted into a university.

Consequently, an Executive Bill for the establishment of Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly on November 22, 2021 and signed into University Law by Mr. Governor, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu February 2, 2022.

Following submission of the appropriate documents to the Executive Secretary (ES) of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Governor received the Certificate of Recognition of Lagos State University of Education February 8, 2022.

With both approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and recognition by JAMB of the Lagos State University of Education in February, 2022, the University hit the ground running, actively participated in the 2022/2023 JAMB Admissions Exercise, and commenced admissions into the NUC-Approved 67 Take-Off programmes across seven colleges: College of Humanities Education, College of Science Education, College of Information and Technology Education, College of Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, College of Management and Social Sciences Education, College of Specialised and Professional Education, and College of Languages and Communication Arts Education. The first set of University’s undergraduates was matriculated on January 31, 2023.

As the reward for work is more work, Lafiaji-Okuneye was appointed the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the new university by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

She took over the mantle of leadership on 2nd February, 2022 with a vision to make the University a quality and leading university teacher education that is globally competitive and highly sought before the end of the first five years of operation. To achieve this, the icon “A.C.H.I.E.V.E’’ has been meticulously coined by her team to guide implementation of the Administration’s policy initiatives. This acronym, details of which are provided in the University’s “Policy Document” translates thus:
A-Academic Culture
C-Community Relations
H-Human Capacity Development and Staff/Students Welfare Promotion
I -Infrastructural Development
E-Entrepreneurship
V-Valuable Research
E-Excellence in Professionalism

Guided by A.C.H.I.E.V.E agenda, emphasis is being laid on effective leadership that is proactive, participatory and transparent; promotion of innovative learning and teaching; encouragement of research-driven developments; provision of a conducive learning and living environment; creating adequate welfare for the staff; and improving financial sustainability of the University, among others.

Based on A.C.H.I.E.V.E agenda, result-based and evidence-based management and accountability is beingstressed. The need for sustained policy dialogue and more enduring partnerships among stakeholders are challenges thatwouldbe met almost immediately. This is to improve the quality of the University’s products and position the University as a power to reckon with in Teacher Education industry in Nigeria within the first five years of operation.
Further guided by the A.C.H.I.E.V.E agenda, financial re-engineering would be cardinal to Prof. Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye’s Administration. There are specific plans to expand the University’s revenue base and closely work with the Private Sector and Development Partners to meet best practices in the modern university system. Today, modern-day universities are expected to transform into socio-economic development agents through the development and deployment of their teaching, research and innovation capacities. By this rework, LASUED would be able to contribute, though a token to complement the huge effort of Lagos State Government in fortifying the University to objectify its mandates.

This is a clever and deliberate way to move this nation from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.

The rapid development recorded by LASUED within the one year of its establishment even in the face of national and local challenges underscores the efficacy of the A.C.H.I.E.V.E agenda, as well as the commitment, dedication, determination, courage, focus and objectivity that characterise the leadership of Lafiaji-Okuneye. Specifically, the list of the achievements of the University include the following:

 Peace and stability in the two campuses;
 100% pass rate in the first and only resource verification exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission;
 Improved infrastructural facilities to enhance performance of Administrative and academic staff e.g. Construction of a 750 seater Auditorium by the Lagos State Government, Completion of 460 seater Lecture Theatre by the Lagos State Government;
 Steady academic calendar as prepared and lectures are ongoing in full at both campuses;
 Creation of enabling environment for staff and students to win local and international research grants and scholarships e.g. Research grants won by Dr Okedeji S. A and Dr. (Mrs.) Odewumi J. O;
 Institution of University Research grant for researchers;
 Continuous Staff Training e.g. Workshops and Seminars;
 Exposing students to trainings and workshops;
 Collaborations with top institutions in and outside Nigeria e.g. University of Education Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;
 Promotion of Sports and Recreational Activities, with many records of prizes and awards in sports competition e.g. Laurels won at the West Africans Games which was the University’s first sports outing; and the just concluded All Federation of Africa University Sports.
 Establishment of monthly staff aerobic exercises to deepen physical fitness and enhance health;
 Creation of sustainable community relations; among several other achievements e.g. Security Summit held annually.
 Appointment of the University’s first set of Professors.
 Introduction of the University Scholar Scheme to reward academic excellence amongst students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.5 and above.
 Hosted the 2025 Nigerian University Games Preliminaries, featuring universities from Lagos and Ogun States, with events including Badminton, Judo, Taekwondo, karate, and others.
The achievements cut across academic excellence initiatives; internationalization efforts; technology integration; quality assurance and accreditation; infrastructure development; industry partnerships and engagement; diversity and inclusion initiatives; strategic marketing and branding; continuous improvement and innovation; and student experience enhancement.

Outstanding Qualities of Lafiaji-Okuneye
Courage is a defining trait of Lafiaji-Okuneye’s leadership. She fearlessly embraced the challenge of transmuting the college into a university, recognising the potential obstacles and uncertainties. Predictably, the transmutation exercise came with a plethora of challenges. She had written a monograph on transmutation of college of education into a university, titled: Exporting Transmutation Experience to Enhancing Excellence in African Universities.
The monograph, which is detailed and touches on the transmutation process, the experiences, the challenges, and the achievements, is a veritable tool for any state or federal government planning to transmute a College of Education into a University. It is also a must read for academic and administrative staff of universities in Nigeria. Many state government and private higher tertiary institution owners in the country have visited her for advice on this subject matter. Despite the challenges of the transmutation exercise, she remained resolute in her determination to succeed, demonstrating the courage to navigate uncharted territories and effect positive change.
Purposeful leadership characterises Lafiaji-Okuneye’s approach to administration. She meticulously crafts and executes strategies aimed at operational innovation, infrastructure renewal, and the enhancement of staff and student welfare. Her administration is marked with clarity of purpose, strategic direction, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Commitment and dedication are hallmarks of Prof. Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye’s leadership ethos. She invests significant time, effort, and resources into realising her vision for the institution, displaying an unwavering commitment to the University’s growth and development. Her dedication to the cause inspires confidence and instills a sense of purpose among stakeholders, fostering a conducive environment for progress.
Despite encountering various obstacles and challenges along the way, Lafiaji-Okuneye’s determination to succeed remains unshakeable. She demonstrates resilience in the face of adversity, leveraging her determination to overcome obstacles and achieve her goals. Her steadfast resolve serves as a beacon of inspiration, rallying the institution’s community around a common vision of success.

Furthermore, Lafiaji-Okuneye’s fail-safe agenda for the University’s development has propelled it to the forefront of academia, garnering recognition for its outstanding contributions to education and research. The university is now poised to become a world-class institution, with Lafiaji-Okuneye’s leadership steering it towards greater heights of excellence and distinction.

In conclusion, Lafiaji-Okuneye is a visionary leader whose intellect, courage, purposeful leadership, commitment, dedication, and determination have propelled the university to unprecedented success. Her monumental achievements stand as a testament to her transformative impact and enduring legacy in the field of education.