By Segun Olulade
Leadership is not merely about occupying an office; it is about understanding the responsibility that comes with the office, appreciating the history that produced the institution, and possessing the competence to take that institution into the future.
For me, the conversation about who should become the next Governor of Lagos State must therefore go beyond political sentiments. It must be about competence, experience, continuity, capacity and the ability to understand the Lagos story deeply enough to write its next chapter boldly.
That is why I believe Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is eminently qualified to become the next Governor of Lagos State.
I have had several engagements with Dr. Hamzat over the years, and each encounter has reinforced my conviction that Lagos needs a leader who understands not just the visible Lagos, but the Lagos beneath the surface; the systems, institutions, people, communities, infrastructure, opportunities and challenges that make the State what it is.
Dr. Hamzat possesses that understanding with a legacy built over time.
Dr. Hamzat’s qualification is not simply that he has been in government for a long time. His greatest advantage is that he has been actively involved in building and managing critical sectors of Lagos State.
His experience as Commissioner for Science and Technology, his service as Commissioner for Works, and his years as Deputy Governor of Lagos State have exposed him to some of the most important components of modern governance.
As Commissioner for Science and Technology, he was exposed to the possibilities of using technology to make government more efficient, transparent and responsive. His tenure demonstrated an understanding that technology should not merely be about computers and infrastructure; it should be a tool for solving real problems.
One practical example was the use of technology and improved systems to tackle issues such as ghost workers and leakages across critical sectors in Lagos Economy, demonstrating that technology can help government identify waste, improve accountability and ensure that public resources are directed toward genuine beneficiaries.
That experience is particularly relevant today.
Lagos is no longer competing only with other Nigerian cities. Lagos is competing with cities across Africa and the world.
The next phase of Lagos must therefore be driven by digital innovation, artificial intelligence, data, smart infrastructure and human capital.
Imagine a Lagos where young people are trained not only to use technology but to build AI-powered solutions for transportation, healthcare, education, agriculture, security and public administration.
Imagine Lagosian startups developing artificial-intelligence systems that can analyse traffic patterns and recommend real-time traffic solutions; technology that helps government identify illegal dumping hotspots; digital platforms that connect young people to global employment opportunities; AI-assisted learning systems that support children in public schools; and data-driven systems that help government anticipate security and infrastructure challenges before they become crises.
This is the Lagos we should be preparing for.
And I believe Dr. Hamzat’s background in Science and Technology, combined with his understanding of government, gives him a unique advantage to drive this transformation.
Also, Lagos is a megacity with enormous possibilities, but it also has enormous pressures.
Traffic congestion, inadequate drainage in some communities, waste management, housing deficits, energy challenges, road infrastructure, security concerns and the pressure created by rapid population growth require a Governor who understands infrastructure beyond the political speeches.
Dr. Hamzat’s experience as Commissioner for Works gives him a significant advantage.
He understands roads. He understands bridges. He understands drainage. He understands the complexity of moving people and goods across a rapidly expanding metropolitan area.
But more importantly, he understands that infrastructure must be connected to economic opportunity.
The Lagos of tomorrow must have an integrated infrastructure strategy involving rail, roads, waterways, energy, digital infrastructure and urban planning.
Our young population must not only be passengers in Lagos’ development; they must become the engineers, software developers, entrepreneurs, technicians, researchers, architects and innovators building its future.
That is why I see Dr. Hamzat’s experience as a strategic asset.
He Understands the Lagos Story
One of the things that continues to amaze me about Dr. Hamzat is his extraordinary knowledge of Lagos.
From my several engagements with him, I have seen firsthand his ability to understand the State beyond the broad political map. He can speak about communities, roads and streets across Lagos with remarkable familiarity.
That may appear ordinary to some people, but it is not.
A Governor who understands the geographical and socio-economic peculiarities of different communities is better positioned to understand why the challenges of one local government may not be exactly the same as those of another.
Lagos is not one homogeneous community.
The challenges of Epe are different from those of Ikeja. The realities of Ikorodu are different from those of Lagos Island. Badagry has its peculiarities, just as Agege, Alimosho, Ibeju-Lekki, Eti-Osa and other parts of the State have their own needs.
This deep institutional and geographical understanding can help produce local-government-sensitive policies rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
It is an uncommon leadership advantage
Another issue he will pay attention to is the culture of discipline.
The success of Lagos has always depended, in part, on its culture of order, enterprise and respect for rules. As the population grows, government must become even more deliberate about enforcing regulations.
But enforcement must not mean oppression.
This is where I believe Dr. Hamzat’s personality matters.
He is popularly called “Baba Jeje” a man who moves softly and gets things done without unnecessary noise.
The ability to remain calm while confronting difficult situations is a leadership strength. In an increasingly polarised society, leaders must know when to enforce the law and when to engage, negotiate and seek alternative dispute resolution.
Dr. Hamzat’s temperament gives him the capacity to combine firmness with humanity.
Lagos needs a government that can enforce environmental regulations, traffic laws, building regulations and other laws while still recognising the dignity and economic realities of the people affected.
That balance is critical.
The same principle applies to waste management. Lagos requires a cleaner, more organised and technologically enabled waste management system that encourages responsible disposal, recycling, waste-to-energy initiatives and the creation of green jobs for young people.
I also believe the conversation about the next administration must include the question of the kind of Deputy Governor who can complement Dr. Hamzat’s experience.
Princess Damilola Sonayon James represents an important demographic that Lagos must pay greater attention to—young people and women.
Her youthful energy, exposure and understanding of the aspirations of young Lagosians can provide an important complement to Dr. Hamzat’s deep experience.
The combination is potentially powerful: experience and youthful energy; institutional knowledge and fresh perspectives; tested leadership and a stronger connection to the aspirations of the next generation.
With the right policy direction, Princess Damilola Sonayon James can help champion more youth-friendly policies around entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, technology, creative industries, education, employment and participation in governance.
Lagos needs to prepare its young people not merely to survive in Lagos, but to compete globally.
The Lagos of the next decade must be a State where a young person from a disadvantaged community can learn a digital skill, build a solution, access global markets and create employment without necessarily leaving Lagos.
It must be a Lagos where public transportation is increasingly integrated, where rail infrastructure continues to expand, where energy becomes more reliable, where waste is converted into economic value, where security is technology-driven, and where government decisions are increasingly guided by accurate data.
This is why I believe Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat represents more than continuity.
He represents continuity with competence, experience with innovation and institutional knowledge with a forward-looking vision.
I have personally had several opportunities to engage with Dr. Hamzat, and I remain in awe of his ability to understand the nooks and crannies of Lagos.
That knowledge is not merely academic.
It is the kind of institutional memory that can help a Governor ask the right questions: Why is this road still problematic? Why is this community underserved? Where should the next transport infrastructure go? What is the economic potential of this corridor? What can be done differently in this local government?
That understanding can translate into stronger policies around rail infrastructure, energy, security, human capital development, technology and economic growth.
For me, the choice is therefore not simply about who wants to govern Lagos.
It is about who understands Lagos, has served Lagos, has built in Lagos, has learned from Lagos and possesses the experience to take Lagos into a more competitive global future.
I believe that person is Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
Lagos deserves a leader who can move softly, think deeply and act decisively.
That is why I stand for Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the next Governor of Lagos State.
Let’s start the work.
As we say in Yoruba:
ÌṢẸ́ YÀÁÁÁ!
- Segun Olulade (Eleniyan), is former Lagos State lawmaker. He is Executive Director, Customer Centricity and Marketing, Galaxy Backbone Limited and Founder, EleniyanCares Leadership Foundation.
