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Easter: Sanwo-Olu’s Wife Harps On Peaceful Coexistence, Nation Building [PHOTOS]
- Holds Special Easter Family Feast
Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Saturday urged Nigerians to see the Easter season as a period to reflect on how to sustain peaceful coexistence in the country and galvanize collective roles in nation-building.
The Governor’s wife, who stated this at the 2023 Family Easter Feast tagged, “Hallelujah, The Lamb of God is Alive Forever, ” noted that the programme is part of the activities by the Office of the First Lady, Lagos State to ensure the season is celebrated in grand style.
” Beyond the celebration, we are encouraged not to lose track of the significance of Easter. We are specifically and categorically admonished to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, and sacrifice for one another, which Jesus Christ demonstrated throughout his period on earth.
“The resurrection of Christ should be a constant reminder for everyone to extend the virtues of selflessness, love, sacrifice, and tolerance.
“This Easter Celebration, coming after the 2023 general elections, presents an opportunity for people to reflect on our individual and collective roles toward promoting and sustaining the foundation of love, peace, and harmony in our dear country, Nigeria.
“Besides, as it is our tradition, the Family Easter Feast also provides a unique platform to pray for our children, admonish them with the word of God, show them love and care, listen to their yearnings and aspirations, and share in their excitement, while also presenting them with amazing gifts to truly make the Easter celebration worthwhile and memorable, ” said the First Lady who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Domestic Affairs, Mrs. Motolani Ladipo.
She also admonished children to be obedient to their parents, eschew all forms of lies, be seriously committed to their education, and most importantly let the fear of God reign supreme in them.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Hon. Abdulwahab Alawiye-King lauded the first family of the state for their dedication to bringing smiles to the faces of Lagos children, particularly the indigent, while spreading the message of love during the commemoration of Easter.
Alawiye-King added: “As we come together to commemorate this special occasion, let us take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Easter, a time of love, sacrifice, hope, renewal, and resurrection. It is a time to come together with loved ones, to give thanks for the blessings in our lives, and to share with those who may be less fortunate.
“Equally, we are celebrating the resilience and perseverance of our pupils, particularly in public schools, who have continued to show dedication to their studies.
“As we gather today, let us take a moment to reflect on the importance of education, particularly for our young people. Our pupils are the future of our state and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that they have access to quality education that prepares them for a bright future.”
He assured that LASUBEB is committed to the aforementioned goals in line with the policy thrust of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, saying the agency will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that pupils in the state receive the best education possible.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Christian Affairs, Rev Bukola Adeleke said it was gratifying that the Family Easter Feast has come to stay as an avenue to positively impact lives and reach out to people, especially children in this special season of love and sacrifice.
In his exhortation, Pastor Segun Olugbenga of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Holy Sanctuary Parish, Lagos urged the children to be more determined to succeed in life like Mary Magdalene who went in search of risen Jesus with Peter and John but succeeded in having an encounter with Jesus because of her perseverance.
There was a drama presentation by the Lagos State Council for Art and Culture and performances by other dance groups.
The children, who were drawn from public and private schools, special needs schools, orphanages, and children of civil servants from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across the state, were also treated to various exciting activities including Train rides, bouncing castles, Merry go round, Obstacle course, Climbers, Swing sets, Paddle boat pool, Race track, Bicycle lane, Bungee jump, Playhouses and pretend play, Video game bar, Easter bunny mascot, Men on stilts, Clown on bicycles and Jugglers, among others.
Thousands of excited Nigerians attended the opening day of the much-anticipated maiden edition of the Lagos Shopping Festival (LSF) on Monday, December 23 and were served up an electrifying feast of events, activities and promotions across the the main venue of the festival, the iconic Mobolaji Johnson Arena, (formerly Onikan Stadium).
As advertised, first day of the festival lived up to its billing with a colourful blend of commerce, music, innovation and creativity following its flag off by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
The Lagos Shopping Festival, powered by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with Chain Reactions Africa, a frontline PR firm, and supported by leading brands, including Zenith Bank, Tolaram Group, First Bank Plc, and Guinness, will see millions of people hit the main venue and select Lagos malls to bag the latest bargains, and bring together the best of city’s retail offering, showcasing local and top global brands and shopping experiences, including in-mall promotions.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the LSF as a history-making festival of back-to-back shopping, fun, and entertainment, reaffirming the Lagos state’s commitment to grow small businesses as well as the entertainment industry.
“This is the first of its kind and this event is made to bring shoppers with MSMEs, with innovators, with entertainers, with the creative industry, with the food industry and everybody,” said Sanwo-Olu.
“For the next three days, we are meant to all come together, enjoy good food, good music, sales at discounted market price, shopping at the highest level and just general entertainment with the creativity of Lagos,” the Governor added.
He called on all Lagosians and Nigerian to join the fun, shopping and entertainment.
“Call everybody from Iyana-Ipaja to Alimosho, call people from Agege, call them from Ebute-Meta to Shomolu, call them from Bariga, from Badagry to Ikorodu, from Epe to Ibeju-Lekki, call everyone to come to the arena here at the Mobolaji Johson Center in Onikan where we’ll be doing shopping, we’ll be doing music, we’ll be doing entertainment for the next two days. This is the first of its kind”, Sanwo-Olu added.
He assured all fun-seekers, buyers and sellers of their safety, saying that they are in a safe, secure, peaceful environment, urging them to “to sit back, relax and see another Lagos creativity that is the first, and the very first Lagos Shopping Festival”.
Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed his appreciation to the sponsors of the Lagos Shopping Festival for their unwavering support to drive the story of Lagos commerce, entertainment and creativity.
“I want to thank all of our sponsors from FirstBank, to Zenith Bank, to Tolaram, to Smirnoff Ice, to Indomie Noodles, to OmniBiz, to PowerOil, to Minimie, and to Malta Guinness, all of them, including the Lagos State Government. I want to thank you”.
He also commended all the local and small businesses at the festival, and urged Lagosians and Nigerians to always patronize them.
“More importantly, to all the small businesses that are inside and under the canopies, go out there and make good deals. Go out there and do huge purchases from them. Go out there and make their small-scale market, work for them; because here, we want the market to be meeting all of the shoppers. That’s what this is all about. It’s about buying stuff at the most reduced market. It’s about entertainment, it’s about food, it’s about tourism. This is what Lagos has given to you again,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Also, commenting, the MD/ Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, the organisers of the Lagos Shopping Festival, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, buttressed the strategic significance of the festival saying, “LSF is poised to be the catalyst that will redefine the true essence of commerce, especially SME businesses, the creative ecosystem, and fun times with family, friends and loved one. LSF is sure set to open a new vista of socio-economic growth from Lagos, to Nigeria, whilst raising a unique bar in the African market”.
Fun-seekers and business men and women alike had entertainment value for their time, with dancing and singing competition with the winners adjudged by the audience receiving cash gifts. The highlight of the day was the energy-revving musical performances from the youthful Ayo Maff, with the soulful rendition of songs from Adekunle Gold the icing on the cake for the audience who kept singing along to his enchanting stage performances.
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