Across Lagos and beyond, there has been an avalanche of praises on Chief (Mrs.) Lucy Omosefe Ajayi on account of her unprecedented achievements recorded as the executive director/CEO of the Lagos International Trade Fair and this has culminated in the thrust to her limelight and the number of high society people who crave her acquaintanceship have quadrupled.
The vivacious woman first had a stint with fame as a model and got to the peak of her career by setting up a modelling agency known as Holistic Promotions.
Unknown to many, the elegant lady is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Beautiful Lucy was born on the 15th of April 1968, to the family of Chief Lawrence Odigie and Madam Josephine Adebisi Eguaaseki in Lagos State and hails from Edo State.
After her secondary education, she bagged an OND in secretarial administration from Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo, in 1988, and a bachelor’s degree in business education from Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, in 1994.
She is a member of Nigeria Institute of Professional Secretaries (NIPS), member, Strategic Institute of Skilled Managers of Nigeria (SISMN) and fellow, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).
The likable woman started her political career with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2010 and was later the chairperson of All Progressives Congress (APC) Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. The peak of her political career was in 2013 when she was appointed as the only female member of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Merger Committee by President Muhammadu Buhari to form the APC. She was a member of the National Propaganda and Publicity Committee.
She was conferred with chieftaincy titles of Yeye Oge of Oke-Ogbere Land of Isolo and Yeye Meso of Ado Kingdom, Abule Ado, Lagos State. She was also bestowed with a spiritual title of the Yeye Alatunse of Oke-Sioni by Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Oke-Oba, Agege, Lagos State.
In this interview with National WAVES magazine publisher, Jimmy Enyeh, the adorable woman opens up on her life and how she runs the Lagos International Trade Fair
Read on.
You are currently the executive director/CEO of Lagos International Trade Fair, how do you combine being an administrator and a politician?
I do not see a difficulty in being the two. You can apply the basic knowledge gotten into running an organization and politics. That helped me a lot
Women in this part of the world still shy away from politics in spite of the United Nations’ willingness to partner with them. What is responsible for this?
They don’t really shy away. It’s just about politics in Nigeria. As you and I know, most women do not have the financial muscle to wrestle with the male counterparts when it comes to politics. Then the thuggery involved is another factor that has impeded the activities of women in politics. I salute the female politicians who have consistently participated in politics.
As a woman who had participated in party politics in the past, what role will you play in 2023?
I will still play the same role I played before, bringing people mostly women and youths into partisan politics.
The stigma in the northern part of the country has to be addressed, they look at women in politics as infidels, which has affected women in that region, and they hardly get involved in politics.
You are one-time Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) party local government chairman, what legacies did you leave?
I was the local government chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). My mandate was to deliver the area to CPC, which I did to the best of my knowledge.
The LITFC was concessioned for nine years. How will you rate LITFC in its days of being concessioned and the last two years that you took over?
Yes, LITFC was concessioned for nine years and no kobo was paid by the concessionaire to LITFCMB’s account.
In the last two years, we internally generated over N1.3 billion in the federation account coupled with other achievements like the recovery of LITFCMB from the former concessionaire back to the government which was a Herculean task.
By the time you complete your tenure as the ED, LITFC, what would you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for my unprecedented achievement at LITFC of generating over one billion naira in two years and the rehabilitation of the five-kilometre road, which is still ongoing.
What should Nigerians expect from you as regards the LITFC in 2020?
Nigerians should expect better days. We have so many plans up our sleeves that will take LITFC to the next level in 2020.
Definitely, you must have been confronted with some challenges, what are these challenges and how do you surmount these challenges?
You are absolutely correct, the Parcel B of the complex is totally occupied and built up by private individuals, companies, business associations, which makes it encumbered, and it therefore requires a high-level government intervention for its recovery. Also, the Department of State Services (DSS) is occupying a total of 45 hectares of land within Parcel A of the complex which is not being fully utilized. We therefore request for government intervention for release of 20 hectares of the land to the management for economic use.
We do not currently have a civil engineer, an accountant, a state counsel and a surveyor, as you and I know their services are essentially required for effective performance. We also lack the services of security personnel, cleaners and tractors for securing and maintenance of the complex. On how we intend to surmount these challenges, I believe it’s a gradual process, when we literally get to the bridge, we shall know how to cross it.
Let’s have an overview of your achievements as the ED, LITFC.
Yes, we have achieved a lot within two years. In spite of the numerous challenges confronting the board, some notable achievements were recorded.
For instance, we generated over N1.3 billion internally from November 2017 to December 2019. Since the repositioning of the complex, there is rehabilitation of the Part A of the office block, furnishing of the office, installation of electrical, electronics and rewiring of the office, restoration of electricity to the complex which was cut off as a result of non-payment of bills by the former concessionaire, repair of the offices and restoration of water supply to the office block, evacuation of blocked drainages and removal of illegal structures hampering free human and vehicular movement within and around the complex, regular cutting of grown grasses, shrubs, trees and clearing of canals to allow for free flow of rain water, purchase of stand by generator for alternative electricity supply and purchase of three official vehicles.
Other achievements include introducing fair and exhibition into the complex which is one of the huge sources of revenue, rehabilitation of the Wing B of the administrative building which has Enago Halls, 500-seater auditorium, rehabilitation of 100 chalets motel, purchase of new tractors and lawnmowers for the cutting of grasses and purchase of project vehicles for monitoring purposes.
Other on-going activities of the LITFC are rehabilitation of B wing of the administrative block, refurbishing of B wing of the administrative block, recovery of outstanding debts owed by the traders and businessmen in the complex including the N6.5 billion owed by the former concessionaire, rehabilitation of the 5-kilometer road network, provision of venue for hosting of socio-cultural and religious events, and maintenance of entry and exit gates.
Many are of the opinion that you are endowed with beauty and brain. How did these evolve?
That’s from God. I give Him all the glory.
Do you have a routine maintaining your splendid look?
I don’t have any routine. It’s by God’s grace and favour. I think I am too busy to have one.
What’s your typical day like?
My day is always busy, trying to manage a complex with many stakeholders with their inherent problems. You really have no time for yourself. I am on pilgrimage now and I still attend to office issues and even you.
What’s your favourite colour?
I like all colours. When I was younger, it was orange. I was a model and ran a modelling agency known as Holistic Promotions.
