By
Former Governor of Lagos State Lateef Kayode Jakande who died in the early hours of today February 11, 2020 was born in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island, Lagos State on 29 July 1929. Both parents from Omu- Aran, Kwara state.
He studied at the Lagos public school at Enu-Owa, Lagos Island, then at Bunham Memorial Methodist School, Port Harcourt (1934–43). He studied briefly at King’s College, Lagos in 1943, and then enrolled at Ilesha Grammar School in 1945, where he edited a literary paper called The Quarterly Mirror.
Late Lateef Jakande impacted immensely in the growth of Lagos State that even after his death , his achievements will forever be remembered.
Here are twenty (20) quick facts and achievements under his administration.
1. His government built the current Lagos State Secretariat which houses all the state ministeries as well as the popular round house hitherto occupied by all subsequent Governors of Lagos State.
2. His government modernized and expanded the Iju Water works which was first commissioned in 1915. This increased the daily capacity with 159 million to 204 million litres per day.
3. His government purchased and commissioned the giant car crusher equipment. The equipment was designed specifically to crush derelict vehicles in Lagos State. It had the capacity to crush 45 vehicles per day.
4. His government constructed Victoria Island/ Epe Road and thereby creating an ‘oil rig’ for Lagos State.
5. His government built the Lagos State Television.
6. His government built the Lagos Radio.
7. His government built the Lagos State University.
8. His government established General Hospital in zones all over the state with assurance of free health care.
9. His government established Teacher Training College and College of Education.
10. His government built low cost houses in Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Amuwo – Odofin, Anikantamo, Surulere , Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Isheri/ Olowu , Orisigun e.t.c.
11. His government established Electricity Board for Rural Electrification with provision of street lights.
12. His government modernized , expanded and commissioned Onikan stadium in 1982.
13. His government established a singular school system and ensured genuine free education in Lagos State and the beneficiaries of this policy are in difference positions of eminence in the country and around the world.
14. His government raised the primary schools in Lagos State to 812 with 533,001 pupils( against 605 primary schools with 434, 545 pupils he met in 1979) and secondary schools to 223 with 167,629 students ( against 105 schools with 107, 835 students in 1979)
15. His government constructed 11, 729 classrooms with the maximum of 40 children per class between March and August 1980, by 1983 he had constructed over 22,000 classrooms.
16. His government established traditional medicine board .
17. His government expanded existing market and built new ones.
18. His government established small scale industries credit scheme which preceded the EKO bank.
19. His government took over the ownership and financing of Lagos State printing Corporation in July 1980.
20. His government established the first state Traffic Management Authority ( Road Marshals).
