Accolades and encomia were showered on the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his visionary leadership and giant strides in infrastructural development across the State.

The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Bode Agoro, the director, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies - Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies (NIPSS - OSKASOGS) Ago Iwoye, Prof Sola Adeyanju and other visitors eulogized Prince Dapo Abiodun for the giant strides he achieved in infrastructural development across the State.

The team which was led to the airport by the State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya from Ago Iwoye where the senior civil servants from  Lagos State Civil Service led by their Head of Service have been undergoing a week long Strategic Leadership and Management course.

The team was received at the Gateway International Airport by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr  Gbenga Dairo, his counterpart in the ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya and the Consultant to Governor on Aviation, Captain Dapo Olumide.

In his remark, the Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya informed the visitors that everything they have been seeing in the States since their arrival were borne out of the purposeful and visionary leadership of Governor Abiodun as encapsulated in his ISEYA mantras with strategic planning for economic growth of the State.

Mr Onasanya said most of the personnel working in the airport were drawn from their various beats within the civil/ public service after a thorough and highly competitive interview with experts in aviation business in the panel to pick the best officers for the job and attributed that seamless arrangements to the goal getting vision of the State governor.

Engr Dairo while taking the visitors through the importance of the airport said the project was anchored on economic development of the state as transportation is important for economy to thrive.

The Commissioner said the facility is premised with a large good processing manufacturing industry and it will ease the movement of raw materials from one point to the other at minimum cost.

The consultant on aviation, Mr Olumide with over four decades in the aviation industry both within and outside the country said the Gateway International Airport is the most technologically driven airport in the country as at today, adding that the facility can boast of the state of the art equipment in its operations.

He said the airport has been licensed with operational permit which he said was the first in Nigeria because of its incomparable potentials which he hinged on the focus and visions of Prince Abiodun for the state.

The team also visited the newly renovated Olumo tourist centre in Abeokuta where they were ushered in with traditional music by the State's cultural troupe and were taken round the iconic features withing the tourism site.

The Head of Service of Lagos state, Mr Bode Agoro while answering questions from journalists after the tour thanked Prince Abiodun for allowing NIPSS to take over the OSKASGOS which he described as a monument in South Western Nigeria for the invaluable and in-depth strategic leadership and management courses being offered at the facility for the top civil/public servants across the region and beyond.

He also said that the airport going by what they saw is a top notch facility and speak more of the quality Gov Abiodun is made of, adding that the facility would definitely help to further develop the economy of both Lagos and Ogun especially at the period when Development Agenda for Western Nigeria is Paramount to South Western States.

"I also thank my Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu for approving the training for the top civil servants in the State. I love everything here and we really enjoyed the tour,  this visit has made me to know the real meaning of Abeokuta and this my first experience is splendid but I will visit Olumo again and again" Mr Agoro said.

Tunde Olayiwola

Information/Public Relations Officer, Office of HoS