For the second time in less than two weeks, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend, spent his time in the historic town of Badagry brainstorming with cabinet members, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies and parastatals on charting a way forward for the State.
The Governor, who arrived in Badagry on Thursday for the three-day retreat, stayed in the town until Sunday before departing to Alausa in Ikeja.
Governor Ambode, had in previous week, stayed in Badagry for three days during which he presided over the quarterly Town Hall Meeting and the State Executive Council Meeting, as well as inspected some ongoing projects of the State Government, many of which are geared towards developing the tourism potentials of the town.
The retreat tagged: "Reflect, Reappraise, Restrategise: Raising The Bar Of Governance," is the second in the series, and was held at the VIP Chalets, Badagry.
Speaking on the implication of the retreat for Badagry, the State's Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade said aside the fact that the event was aimed at discussing ways to add value to Lagosians, the holding of the retreat in Badagry was an eloquent testimony of government of inclusion promised by Governor Ambode, in which no area of the State will be left behind.
He said: "Badagry continues to be the tourism capital of the State. It is the headquarter of one of the five divisions of the State and we believe as part of the government of inclusion that Governor Ambode is running, every part of the State should feel governance and coming to Badagry is to showcase the fact that we have peace in the State, the State is secured and governance can happen in every part of the State. That is just the message and it is more about inclusion."
On his part, the State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the development was part of the grand plan of Governor Ambode to transform Badagry as the number one tourism destination not only in Nigeria but Africa.
According to him: "This is a demonstrable evidence of a thinking government. Last week, we were here for the Town Hall Meeting and then the first Exco meeting outside of Alausa held here in Badagry and of course the Governor with his team went round the city.
"Now, we are back here in Badagry because this is the home of tourism. The Governor has said that he wants to make Badagry the number one when it comes to tourism not only in Nigeria, but in Africa and this is coming barely a week to the grand launch of the One Lagos brand which will happen between the 27th and 29th of July. So, a lot is happening and it is good that this is also coming up at a time we are having a retreat here in Badagry.
"The retreat offers us the opportunity to reflect, reappraise and restrategise and of course tourism is a core component of the strategy that this administration wants to work on," Ayorinde said.
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