Sanwo-Olu’s Investment In Public Safety Earns Lagos Global Recognition

The Lagos State Government has once again earned international recognition as the General Manager of the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, Mr. Femi Kennedy Giwa, received the Public Safety Personality of the Year Award at the 2025 AfriSAFE Awards held on Friday, November 14th, at the Prideinn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa, Mombasa, Kenya. The award was presented during the 6th Africa Safety Congress/AfriSAFE Awards, a prestigious continental event that convened over 35,000 professionals, government agencies, and industry leaders. This year’s ceremony highlighted exceptional contributions to health, safety, emergency response, and technology under the theme: “United for a Safer Africa: Building Strategic Alliances & Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Development.”

Mr. Giwa was honoured for his exemplary leadership in strengthening Lagos State’s emergency response architecture, public safety coordination, and disaster management systems. The Chief Executive Officer of AfriSAFE, Femi Da-Silva, noted that Giwa’s achievements reflect the award’s mission of celebrating individuals advancing safety practices across Africa. He emphasized that Giwa’s impact has contributed significantly to Lagos becoming one of Nigeria’s safest and best-coordinated urban centres, especially through innovative, technology-driven emergency systems and improved response times.

Mr. Da-Silva further highlighted Giwa’s extensive experience, noting that he is an environmental and emergency management professional with decades of service and one of only four Certified Emergency Managers in Africa under the International Association of Emergency Managers. His global expertise, coupled with his leadership at the Command and Control Centre, has positioned Lagos as a model for emergency management excellence on the continent.

In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Giwa attributed the honour to the visionary leadership and strategic investments of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose administration has prioritized safety infrastructure, capacity building, and technological advancements across all emergency response units. He explained that the Governor’s support has enabled the Command and Control Centre to achieve significant milestones, including major infrastructural upgrades, enhanced governance structures, strengthened inter-agency collaboration, and increased public sensitization on the proper use of the emergency toll-free lines 767 and 112.

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Giwa added that under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, the Lagos State Command and Control Centre has transformed into a world-class technology hub, equipped with advanced systems for real-time monitoring, coordinated responses, and city-wide safety management. This latest AfriSAFE Award adds to the growing list of accolades recognizing Lagos State’s innovative approach to public safety, emergency coordination, and the government’s continued commitment to building a modern, technology-driven, and resilient smart city.