The Governor who spoke at the Courtesy Call Room of Lagos House, Ikeja, said this informs the way that the government has approached the question of healthcare and education by providing access to healthcare on a social welfare basis where certain services are free especially for pregnant women, young children and adult citizens who are often the most vulnerable members of any society.
Governor Fashola who thanked the Chairman of CAPA, Most Reverend Bernard Ntahoturi from Burundi, for his incisive presentation of the purpose of the conference in Lagos noted that they sit very well with the ideals that underpin the work of the present government and the way it has approached its work.
He explained that it is this respect for dignity that has reinforced the commitment also to free basic education, redevelopment of school infrastructure, training of teachers, investment in principals, career elongation for teachers among others with the results being seen in terms of the gradual but sustained improvement in terminal exam results. According to the Governor, the State has climbed slowly from a modest beginning of less than 10 percent terminal examination pass to 41 percent at the last exams.
He explained that the administration has also set for itself higher benchmarks to the effect that before the end of this tenure, students in the State’s schools should secure no less than 60 percent pass across all the schools.
Fashola also informed that last week, the administration took perhaps the most daunting of her challenges which is the provision of shelter as further proof about the commitment it has to the enhancement and protection of the dignity of residents by providing shelter for them on the basis where they could contribute some equity of 30percent and then pay off the balance over 10 years at a single interest rate.
“The theme of your conference sits very well with us, but as I have said, the lines have been a little clearer, sometimes they are blurred between the Church and the State. It is easy to argue that the church has taken the responsibility for the spiritual side of these issues and that the state has taken responsibility for the physical side but we have also seen that it is impossible to create two parallel lines that do not meet. Often the State is involved as well as the Church in the physical side of things”, he reiterated.
“You could not have chosen a better place to discuss some of these issues and the underlying conflict resolution that is necessary in some parts of the place where your brothers and our brothers come from, because if there was any state that has shown that it is religiously neutral, it is ethnically balanced and neutral, it is Lagos because not only have we inter-married, we have lived together in peaceful co-existence”, he said.
The Governor said he personally abhors violence against the vessels of life and that the government has also taken a position against it by legislation, policy and by physical action and has built perhaps the only transit home in the whole of Nigeria for women who have suffered domestic violence in Alimosho and dedicated it for that purpose.
“It has nursing facility, school facility and everything for women who often end up thrown out of their home after the abuse. That home is what we have called safe harbour for the vessel of life. Any woman who loses her home because of abuse is always welcome there with her children until such a time that we can intervene to reconcile the family or bring harmony but in that institution we are able to continue the children’s education and also provide medical support where necessary”, he explained.
The Governor also spoke about the menace of human trafficking describing it as the second slavery which is a voluntary one while charging everyone to join hands to put an end to the practice because it undermines the dignity that God gave Man since he was not created in bondage by God.
According to Fashola, the imprimatur of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria is old and very enduring and helped to build a significant portion of the human capital of the country and continues to make that contribution through its schools, churches, synods and other activities.
He also informed the visitors that Lagos is also undertaking a residents registration exercise with a view to establishing an accurate database of its residents towards providing adequately for them.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of CAPA, Most Reverend. Bernard Ntahoturi from Burundi, commended the present administration in Lagos for the transformation it is bringing about in all sectors in the state.
“We saw that the actualiser of Lagos has kept Lagos with that name. We like to thank you that we have seen Lagos as a state that is thriving and one with security, a state with a vision and a state with a leadership that is committed to the well being of its population of people not only the Nigerians but foreigners who are living in the state”, he said.
While giving an insight into the conference, Reverend Ntahoturi said it would discuss the contribution of CAPA to what is happening in Sudan, Southern Sudan, Central Africa and other parts of Africa so that in terms of the economic and poverty challenges that the Continent faces, the church can contribute.
He added that the Anglican Church stands for the dignity of the human person especially as God created them and intended the family to be with harmony among all the creations of God.
Reverend Ntahoturi added that the CAPA is prepared to work with the leadership in Africa because the church proclaims the holistic gospel that serves the whole humanity which explains its readiness to partner with the leadership of African countries.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Oyinlomo Danmole and many members of the Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA) including the Archbishop of the Lagos Diocese, Professor Adebayo Akinde.
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