FANIMOKUN BLESSES LASU WITH BILLION NAIRA GIFTS & BUILDINGS
A major implementor of Jakande’s development economic projects as governor of Lagos State, Chief Tunde Fanimokun has gifted the Lagos State University at Ojo with billions of naira for its educational advancement.
In the University’s 2025 Distinguished Personality lecture he delivered at LASU campus at Ojo today, 81 years old Fanimokun said he was motivated to making the donations to further enrich the legacy of Jakande under who he served as permanent secretary ( economic matters) in the four years three months of the first civilian administration in Lagos State from October 1979 to December 1983.
Fanimokun lectured the distinguished audience on “the practicability of incorruptibility under a democratic dispensation given a good leader: a case study of Jakande, the legend”
In the audience which included the secretary to the first civilian administration, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun; LKJ’s chief press Secretary, Prince Bayo Osiyemi and one of the financial wizkids of that regime’s economic policies, Bashorun Fatai Arobieke; Chief Fanimokun enumerated the 20 points which Jakande symbolised to emerge a model leader that drove unprecedented development in Lagos State in the Second Republic.
These attributes that made Jakande tick included being a genius who planned for office; a strong advocate of the universal success formula in all human endeavours; and apostle of the philosophy of GGGN (greatest good of the greatest number of the people); and epitome of visionary leadership and leadership by example with insatiable passion for audacious dream projects as a “possibilitarian”.
Others included his innovative creation of 23 new LGs from eight (8) in Lagos State in 1980; a reference point of entrepreneurship in the public sector; and advocate of “sustainable development” since there is no end to prosperity; the facilitator of the precious Osborne Foreshore Estate (OFE) in Ikoyi as well as Ikoyi Foreshore Estate (IFE) 1983 including the Park View Estate Extension; godfather of the iconic Banana Island in 1984; the master builder of the Lekki Peninsula Development Scheme as well as being an advocate of balancing the budget instead of deficit financing and the debt burden trap in development planning.
Fanimokun is optimistic that if the Jakande leadership style is adopted at the leadership level, the country could still be redeemed; pointing out that the EFCC under the current adminstration was doing an impressive work to help stem corruption in the country.
He lauded the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello for her sterling performance in driving development in the institution, pointing out that she must have studied LKJ and imbibed some of his unique attributes in achieving so much during her tenure in LASU.
