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Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Lagos State, Nigeria, has stressed the need for policymakers to prioritize the strengthening of institutions and fostering towards shaping a desirable future for an urban governance and knowledge-based economy of global standards.
The brilliant monarch also harped on collaboration among the Gown, Town and Crown for a well structured and sustained urban-centered growth.
The Traditional ruler took this position while delivering a deeply researched 2026 edition of LASU Distinguished Personality Lecture series, at the Lagos State University, Ojo Main Campus Wednesday.
The 2026 edition of the Distinguished Personality Lecture Series, was the fourth of its kind as instituted by the leadership of Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the second female and 9th substantive Vice Chancellor of the world-rated academic citadel.
Oba Oniru discharged his richly resesrched, scholarly paper under the theme:
Urban Governance and the Knowledge Economy: Strengthening Institutions for a 21st Century Lagos.
He posited that urban governance reform is a process as expansion translates to resilience, noting that for cities to thrive, they must have been investing patiently in institutional capacity.
Such cities, Oniru insisted, must also manage disruption creatively and purposefully to ensure a knowledge-based economy and strengthen institutions.
The Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Abisogun the second, spoke on various initiatives put in place by the Lagos State government on urban governance with particular concerns for agriculture, tourism, transportation framework, LASTMA and institutions and to achieve sustainable development however advocate more research, innovation using data, deepening collaboration with stakeholders and communities to further enhance knowledge-based economy.
In her welcome address earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, had stated that the lecture series provides a unique platform for critical thinking, engaging discussions on governance, innovation and the role of knowledge in shaping modern cities and societies, while commending the Oba Oniru for his noted commitment to sustainable development in Lagos State.
Distinguished Professor Dapo Asaju who was the event Chairman, noted that the lecture was unique because it came from a traditional institution.
Asaju hoped that people would grab and digest the message to be passed through theme of the lecture on the need to foster Urban Governance and the Knowledge Economy.
The former VC of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, also harped on strengthening Institutions for a twenty first Century Lagos.
In their goodwill messages, the Deputy Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, and the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, both in their turns, assured the learned audience of the state government commitment to promoting research and fostering critical thinking, knowledge sharing on governance, through LASU in addressing societal challenges and ensuring sustainable development.
Mr. Emmanuel Fanu, Registrar of LASU, moderated the event which had in attendance, the Chairman, Lagos State branch of the All Progressives Congress, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Royal fathers and many others.
Fanu added that the distinguished lecture series serves as a platform for meaningful discourse, leadership reflection, and knowledge sharing, bringing together members of the academic community, policymakers, students, and the general public.
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