The Lagos State Government on Thursday unveiled plans to adopt the Boston model to clean up the State waterways and tackle other environmental issues.
The State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, disclosed this shortly after series of meetings with the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, and the Executive Director of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Paul Levy, in the United States of America.
At the meeting, Levy recalled the Boston waterways and sewage crises and explained to Ambode and his team how the government worked hard for years to clean up the harbour as well to provide clean portable water to the people.
Governor Ambode, who was later hosted by Walsh, where he held discussions on a Sister-City Collaboration with Boston, equally discussed areas for mutual economic partnership between Lagos and Boston.
The Mayor described Governor Ambode’s visit as a homecoming, recalling that Ambode was, earlier in his career, a Fulbright Scholar at the Boston University and also worked in the State Treasury Department.
The Mayor and his team identified areas of mutual interest with Lagos and pushed for collaboration, with both cities considering the numerous similarities they share.
Ambode, on his part, said the knowledge and experience he gained from Boston helped shape his career and benefited him in his position as Governor.
He pledged to explore areas where Lagos could partner with Boston, especially in the clean-up of the Lagos waterways.
The Governor shared insights into the investment opportunities available in Lagos, stating that it is the prime destination for investments in Nigeria.
In a related development, Governor Ambode in a meeting with senior officials of the MIT Faculty and the MIT Africa Initiative in Cambridge, Boston Massachusetts, confirmed that the State Government has entered into a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the use of innovation and technology to tackle the challenges facing Lagos State.
Ambode informed the MIT Team that Lagos is the technology hub of Africa, with Yaba now globally acclaimed as a hotspot for start-ups, assuring the MIT that his government would continually work to create an environment where new businesses will thrive as well support more tech hubs in Lagos.
He said: “We are Africa’s largest market and we represent a huge opportunity for businesses with solutions that can match our ambitions.
“Lagos is open to new ideas.
“Lagos is open for business.
“Lagos is open for innovation.
“We welcome new and different perspectives.
“That is why we are here at MIT.
“We hope to gain more partners as we continue with the business of making sure that Nigeria and Africa succeeds.”
The Lagos State delegation to the MIT included the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti; the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare; and the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Engineer Ade Akinsanya.
They were received by the Provost for International Activities, Prof. Richard Lester; Faculty Director of Legatum Center, Prof. Fiona Murray; and Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel World and Food Security, Renee Robins.
Governor Ambode and his team also met with the MIT Africa MD, Julia Reynolds-Cuellar, and the Director of MIT Regional Entrepreneurship and Acceleration Programme Team on Africa, Sarah-Jane Maxted.
Trending
- Yahaya Bello: Selective prosecution by EFCC unacceptable — Dele Momodu
- Lagos to residents: We won’t back down until we find solution to flooding
- Ex-Bank Manager jailed 121 years for N112m fraud
- IPI Nigeria demands immediate release of FIJ journalist
- Africa and the imperative of South Korea’s development model, by Tunde Rahman
- Education: South-west Nigeria has lost its edge!, by Abiodun Komolafe
- Metal debris hits journalist in Kano, Police promise probe
- Capital City University, Kano appoints first female registrar