Sanwo-Olu Presents Photographic Book On Leadership, Resilience, Lagos’ Transformation
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unveiled a book titled “Sanwo-Olu: Against All Odds – A Photo Story of Resilience in the Face of Adversity.”
The book is a photographic documentation of his administration’s journey through some of its most defining moments during his first term as Governor of Lagos State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described the book authored by his Executive Assistant and official photographer, Mr Ademola Olaniran, as a visual account of resilience, leadership, continuity and the enduring spirit of Lagos.
The book captures key moments from Governor Sanwo-Olu’s first term and the early years of his second term, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the EndSARS protests, infrastructure development, economic reforms and social interventions.
The ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Babagana Zulum (Borno); Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; First Lady, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; members of the Lagos State Executive Council; political, traditional and religious leaders; captains of industry; and members of the diplomatic community, among others.
Speaking at the official unveiling and presentation of “Sanwo-Olu: Against All Odds – A Photo Story of Resilience in the Face of Adversity”, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the publication is unique because it documented an administration while it is still in office, adding that the book tells more than the story of a Governor; Lagos and its people.
He said: “I find myself in an unusual position because books about leaders are usually written when the story has ended, when the man has left the stage and history has had time to render its verdict. This one is different, and deliberately so.
“Look closely, and you will find the true subject of this book — Lagos itself. The market woman rebuilding her store, the nurse who had not seen her family for weeks during the pandemic, the young person demanding to be heard, the engineer on a bridge project, the school child walking into a classroom that did not exist a year before. This is the Lagos story.”
Reflecting on the challenges that defined the first term of his administration, Governor Sanwo-Olu recalled the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the EndSARS protests, the Abule-Ado explosion, building collapses and other emergencies that tested the resilience of both government and residents.
“Trial upon trial, grief upon grief, any one of which could have defined an entire tenure, yet we were given all of them in a single term. But Lagos never stopped building. Lagos never stopped moving forward,” he said.
The Governor also highlighted key achievements of his administration, including the completion of the Blue and Red Rail Lines, the commencement of operations at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, investments in housing, healthcare, education and food security, as well as efforts to preserve the state’s cultural heritage.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described continuity in governance as the greatest secret behind Lagos’ success, noting that successive administrations had built on the achievements of the previous ones rather than dismantling them.
Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the contributions of President Bola Tinubu, former Governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, describing them as key architects of modern Lagos.
He said: “There is one photograph in this book that I treasure above all the others. It shows four Governors of this State — the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, and the 15th — jointly holding a single model of a single train aloft. Four administrations. One dream. Eight hands. That image is the deepest secret of the Lagos success story, and it is called continuity.
“In this State, we do not tear down what our predecessors built; we build upon it. I inherited dreams, and I have laboured to hand over foundations. The rail lines, the port, the homes, the schools — these are proud achievements. But if you ask me what I most want my legacy to be, it is this: that the relay continued; that the baton was carried at full speed and passed on unbroken; and that the trust between the people of Lagos and their government left this administration stronger than it met it.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu also praised Olaniran for his commitment and passion, saying, “No photograph can capture what I owe you. Ademola Olaniran has walked beside me through rain and shine, dawn and dusk, across thousands of miles — into rooms of triumph and rooms of grief, and moments I would not myself have chosen to be seen. He has been generous enough to call me his chief encourager.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Governors Hope Uzodinma and Babagana Zulum, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s giant strides in Lagos and praised his administration for taking bold steps at critical moments.
They described the book as a valuable visual archive of governance and development in Lagos State.
In his Welcome Address, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, described the publication as more than a book, saying it was a celebration of leadership, resilience and the power of documentation.
Hamzat said photography remains one of the most powerful tools for preserving history, noting that photographs often communicate emotions, values and experiences more effectively than written records.
“History is not only written in words; it is also captured through the lens. This work reminds us that leadership is not merely about policies and projects, but also about the people whose lives are touched by those decisions,” he said.
Dr Hamzat said the book offers a unique perspective on governance by documenting both the human and institutional sides of leadership.
“It shows the moments of decision, the weight of responsibility, the challenges, the victories and the determination to deliver on promises made to the people,” he added.
The Deputy Governor commended Mr Ademola Olaniran for documenting Lagos State’s transformation and preserving important moments in Lagos’ history for future generations.
In his remarks, the author, Mr Ademola Olaniran, said the publication was conceived as a visual testimony to leadership under extraordinary circumstances.
He noted that his duty as a photographer was not to create narratives but to faithfully document events as they unfolded.
“Some leaders are blessed with great stories, while others find great storytellers. This is a great story, and I believe it deserves to be preserved.
“As storytellers, we do not manufacture character or create legacy. We simply observe, record and preserve. What I found was a leader navigating difficult moments while remaining committed to public service,” he stated.
The photographer revealed that the project was executed by a team of eleven professionals who spent years documenting the administration’s activities across the state.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the First Family, members of the State Executive Council and his colleagues for granting access and support throughout the project.
“One day, this moment will become history. The responsibility of storytellers is to ensure that history is preserved faithfully and truthfully. That is what Against All Odds seeks to achieve,” Olaniran said.
