LAGOS 2015: AMBODE REUNITES WITH WARRI CLASSMATES

In what was an obvious boost to the image of Mr Akinwumi Ambode, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, his fellow old students at the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State paid glowing tributes to him and projected him as someone clearly qualified to steer the affairs of Lagos.
The event took place on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at the Civic Centre and was tagged: ‘An Evening with Ambode.’ It was an occasion to formally introduce Ambode to the corporatecommunity. So it was a grand event which was well attended and overflowing with dignitaries.
In what could be said to be the high point and a display of excellence at the event that dragged till late in the evening, Ambode’s citation was read by former chairwoman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, who was one of his classmates.
So, people listened with rapt attention as she read out the profile of the man APC is putting forward for the governorship in Lagos State.
Recounting Ambode’s record of performance as Lagos State Accountant-General, Okauru recalled that “Under his watch, the State Treasury Office was revolutionised which could be seen in the way the Lagos State finances were raised, budgeted, managed and planned,” as she attributed it why the state’s budget performance is at an average of 85% annually.
“He ensured payment of civil service staff salaries before the end of the month, payment of running cost by first week of each month and introduced end of the year package and special/specific welfare for staff. He launched the e-payment platform for the monthly staff salaries. He renovated the State Treasury Office, created conducive working environment, introduced a corporate dress code and provided laptops for all directors for ease of work”.
Upon retirement from civil service, Ambode established Brandsmiths Consulting Limited in 2012. The company has in its portfolio numerous blue chip organisations in addition to consulting for federal, state and local governments on the modalities for the transition to the new International Public Service Accounting System and other financial advisory services.
Conclusively, the general position of Ambode’s friends was that politics aside, “Ambode is a stickler for high performance who does not make decisions based on race, gender or religion.”
When it was time for Ambode to speak, he enthused that his ambition to be the governor of Lagos State is traceable to his journey in life and achievements, which he linked to his appointment as a prefect from his days at FGC Warri, a responsible he said opened him up to the role and responsibilities of good leaders.
He said his vision for Lagos is to facilitate unprecedented development in the state. He promised to ensure a 24-hour commercial city, free education for children to secondary school level, free lunch for junior school, massive inner city road construction and maintenance, equality of opportunity, youth empowerment with emphasis on entertainment and sports.