Turning Residents’ Complaints into Action Against Waste Dumping, Blocked Drainage and Flood Risks

1. The Problem

In many communities across Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State, residents face environmental problems such as indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage channels, poor road conditions and flooding. These problems affect movement, livelihoods, public health and the safety of neighbourhoods.

The state has taken steps to improve waste collection and enforce environmental regulations. However, residents also need clear information about where to report environmental problems, which authorities are responsible for responding, and what happens after a complaint is made.

When waste collection is irregular or drainage channels remain blocked, residents may not know where to seek help or how to follow up. Meanwhile, authorities need reliable information from communities to identify recurring problems and direct limited resources to areas where they are most needed.

The policy challenge is therefore not only how to keep communities clean, but how to create a reliable link between residents who experience environmental problems and the institutions responsible for addressing them.

2. Proposed Policy

I propose an Oyo State Community Environmental Response and Drainage Protection Policy to strengthen environmental reporting, improve coordination among relevant authorities and make responses to community complaints more transparent.

The policy would begin with a six-month pilot in selected communities in Ibadan, before being reviewed for possible expansion across the state.

It would focus on four practical measures:

A. Community Environmental Reporting System

Establish a simple reporting system through existing government contact channels, telephone calls, WhatsApp where available, and designated community reporting representatives. Residents should be able to report blocked drains, illegal dumping sites, missed waste collection and other environmental concerns without needing to navigate complicated procedures.

Each complaint should receive a reference number or other means of identification so the resident can follow up. A digital platform should support, rather than replace, telephone and in-person reporting.

B. Clear Responsibilities and Response Tracking

Relevant authorities should designate officers to receive, classify and refer complaints to the appropriate agency or local authority. Each report should be recorded with its location, type of problem, responsible authority, action taken and current status.

The policy should establish realistic response targets for different categories of complaints, taking into account the urgency of the problem and available resources. Reports involving immediate threats to public safety should be prioritised.

C. Community Drainage and Waste Hotspot Mapping

Work with residents, community associations, environmental organisations, youth groups and relevant government officers to identify recurring illegal dumping locations, blocked drainage channels and areas that experience repeated flooding.

The resulting hotspot register would help authorities plan drainage inspections, schedule waste evacuation and identify locations requiring engineering assessments or longer-term infrastructure improvements.

Residents should not be expected to solve structural drainage or road problems themselves. Their role would be to provide local knowledge and help authorities identify where intervention is needed.

D. Public Accountability and Community Education

Publish periodic, accessible reports showing the number and categories of complaints received, those resolved, outstanding cases, common problem locations and reasons for delays where known.

Community meetings and environmental education activities should explain proper waste disposal, the use of accredited waste collectors, drainage protection and available reporting channels. Reports should avoid publishing residents’ personal information.

3. Implementation Plan

First two months: Preparation

The Oyo State House of Assembly could convene relevant stakeholders to review existing environmental laws, reporting channels and agency responsibilities. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Oyo State Solid Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA), relevant local authorities and community representatives would help identify gaps and select pilot locations.

Months three to five: Pilot implementation

Launch the reporting and tracking system in selected communities. Train designated officers and community representatives, document environmental hotspots, and begin publishing simple progress updates.

Month six: Evaluation

Assess whether complaints are being acknowledged and resolved more consistently, whether repeat dumping locations are receiving attention, and whether residents understand how to report problems. Use the findings to improve the model before considering wider implementation.

4. Funding and Accountability

The pilot should begin by assessing existing reporting systems, personnel and resources so that government can strengthen what already exists rather than create an expensive parallel agency.

Potential costs include staff training, communication, field inspections, hotspot mapping and public reporting. Funding could be considered through relevant existing environmental allocations, subject to budget approval and applicable public financial rules.

The responsible agencies should provide periodic implementation reports to the appropriate legislative committee. Any new statutory duties, reporting requirements or penalties should be developed through the proper legal process, with clear responsibilities and safeguards.

5. Measuring Success

The pilot should be evaluated using measurable indicators, including:

• The number of environmental complaints received and acknowledged.
• The proportion of complaints resolved within agreed response targets.
• The number of recurring dumping and drainage hotspots identified and addressed.
• The frequency of repeat complaints at previously addressed locations.
• The number of communities reached through public education.
• Residents’ awareness of reporting channels and satisfaction with responses.

Baseline data should be collected before implementation so that progress can be assessed fairly.

6. Expected Impact

The policy would help residents participate more meaningfully in environmental governance, enable authorities to identify recurring problems, and strengthen accountability for public services.

It would also create opportunities for young environmental advocates, researchers and community organisations to contribute local evidence to policy decisions.

The approach would not replace essential investments in roads, drainage infrastructure or flood-control projects. Instead, it would help communities and government identify problems earlier, coordinate responses and use available resources more effectively.

Conclusion

Environmental problems are often discussed after a community has been flooded, a drainage channel has become completely blocked, or refuse has accumulated beyond control. Oyo State needs a system that also listens before these problems become more severe.

My proposal is simple: when residents report an environmental problem, there should be a clear process for recording it, assigning responsibility, tracking the response and reporting the outcome.

By connecting community knowledge with government action, Oyo State can take a practical step towards cleaner neighbourhoods, better-maintained drainage channels and more accountable environmental governance.

Background

Many young people in Ogun State use their phones every day to make videos on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. They make funny skits, teach people new skills, and share news. This is a real job for many young people, but there is a big problem.

It is very hard for these young creators to make real money from their videos. Many big apps do not pay creators in Nigeria the same way they pay people in other countries. On top of that, internet data is very expensive, and electricity to charge phones and cameras is not always reliable.

What Is Happening

When a young creator in Abeokuta, Sagamu, or Ota makes a video that gets millions of views, they should be able to earn money to feed themselves and help their families. Making content is not just for fun; it is a real business that can give young people jobs and keep them out of poverty.

Why This Matters

If we do not help young digital creators, many talented people will lose hope or stop creating. When our youth cannot earn money from their online hard work, our local communities lose income that could have stayed right here in Ogun State.

How We Can Fix It

The Ogun State House of Assembly can pass a law to support young digital creators through three clear actions:

First, the government can build free internet centers and public video editing studios across towns in Ogun State. This gives young people access to fast wifi, lighting, and electricity so they can make high-quality videos without spending all their money on data.

Second, the state government can hold official meetings with big tech companies like TikTok, Meta, and YouTube, alongside banks and payment companies. They can work together to open up full payment features and easy bank transfers so Nigerian creators get paid directly for their views.

Third, the government can create rules that protect young creators from extra taxes, heavy fees, or unfair harassment. By offering small grants and keeping rules friendly, young people can run their digital creator businesses safely.

When This Should Start

This law should be created right now because thousands of students and young people are finishing school and looking for ways to earn a living. Helping them earn money from their digital skills today will build a strong future for Ogun State.

Turning Waste Into Value.

Living in Lagos, particularly with the environmental challenges experienced in communities such as Ayobo, Ojo,Iyana-Iba has made it difficult to ignore the consequences of poor waste management. Indiscriminate dumping, refuse accumulating in public spaces, and waste finding its way into drainage channels are not merely environmental concerns, they affect public health, movement, livelihoods, and the safety of our communities, especially during the rainy season.

What concerns me most is that we often treat waste as something to be discarded rather than a resource that can be recovered, recycled, and converted into economic value.

I remember joining the Leadgreen Fellowship driven by my interest in environmental sustainability and the need to understand how young people can contribute to solving environmental challenges in their communities. Through that fellowship, I have learnt to look beyond awareness and consider practical, community driven solutions that can deliver lasting impact.

An internship experience at Nigerian Bottling Company has also strengthened my interest in this subject where I learnt about the Coca-Cola System's Packaging Collection Hub in Apapa which has showed an important dimension of waste management: plastic bottles can be collected, sorted, processed, and reintroduced into the production value chain. The hub has an annual processing capacity of up to 13,000 metric tonnes of plastic bottles, demonstrating the potential of organised collection and recycling infrastructure in addressing plastic waste.

I therefore propose a Lagos Community Waste Recovery and Flood Prevention Policy that strengthens community level waste collection, recycling, and accountability through the following measures:

• Community Recycling and Collection Points: Establish accessible, clearly designated collection points in markets, schools, residential communities, and other public spaces, supported by reliable waste evacuation schedules.
• Waste Sorting and Recycling Incentives: Promote the separation of recyclable materials from general waste and establish partnerships with recycling companies, cooperatives, and local entrepreneurs to create economic opportunities from recovered materials.
• Drainage Protection and Enforcement: Strengthen monitoring of identified illegal dumping hotspots, ensure timely removal of waste obstructing drainage channels, and enforce existing environmental laws fairly and consistently.
• Community Participation and Accountability: Require relevant local authorities and waste management agencies to publish accessible information on collection schedules, reported dumping hotspots, and responses to community complaints. Residents should have a clear channel for reporting problems and tracking action taken.
• Legislative Oversight and measurable results: Encourage the Lagos State House of Assembly to work with relevant agencies and local governments to establish measurable indicators, including improved collection coverage, increased recovery of recyclable materials, reduced illegal dumping, and better-maintained drainage channels.

Implementation should build on existing waste management structures, including LAWMA and its accredited operators, rather than duplicate their responsibilities. It should also encourage collaboration between government, private sector recyclers, community organisations, and residents.

I believe Lagos needs more than periodic environmental clean-ups. We need a system that makes responsible waste disposal accessible, recycling economically worthwhile, and environmental accountability a shared responsibility.

My position is simple: waste management should not end at evacuation,it should begin with prevention, continue through recovery, and be sustained by accountability. Through this policy, I hope to contribute to a Lagos where cleaner communities, reduced flood risks, and green economic opportunities become achievable outcomes rather than recurring promises.

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This research examines why three well-funded empowerment structures in Ado-Ekiti - TVET (skills), NDE (tools/credit), and NFWP Scale-Up (women cooperatives) - have failed to lift women tailors out of poverty, and how a single market-creation policy can fix it.

Key Finding: 48.6% of trained women tailors in Ado-Ekiti earn below N20,000/month and 45% of NDE beneficiaries sold their machines within 6 months, not because of lack of skill or capital, but lack of guaranteed bulk market.

Ado-Ekiti LGA has 78,000 public school pupils, creating a N1.17 billion uniform market per session that currently leaves Ekiti for Lagos/Aba. A Localized School Uniform Production Policy mandating local production by TVET-certified, NDE-financed, NFWP-organized cooperatives will retain this capital, raise tailor income to N60,000-N80,000/month, reduce parent cost by 25%, and provide sustainability for NFWP after World Bank exit in 2028.

1. RESEARCH PROBLEM

Nigeria's empowerment architecture is fragmented:

-TVET (NBTE/Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti) produces skilled tailors but no market. 70% of graduates are unemployed 12 months post-training.

- NDE provides starter packs and N100k loans to 340 women in Ekiti (2024) but no off-takers. High default rate.

- NFWP Scale-Up organizes 1,500 WLGs in Ado-Ekiti and gives grants but no structured income stream.

Result: Skills + Tools + Structure exist, but Market is missing. Empowerment collapses at the last mile.

1. METHODOLOGY

Mixed methods. Survey of 280 respondents (140 women tailors across NFWP/NDE/TVET, 140 parents), Key Informant Interviews with NFWP State Coordinating Unit, NDE Ekiti Coordinator, Head of TVET Department Federal Poly Ado, and SUBEB Procurement. Data collection July-September 2026 in Ado-Ekiti LGA.

1. KEY FINDINGS

Finding 1: Economic Status

Average monthly income N18,500. 58.6% have less than 10 customers/month. Tailors are idle 8 months/year, only active during resumption.

Finding 2: NDE Impact & Failure

Of 45 NDE beneficiaries interviewed, 20 sold machines. Reason cited: "No steady orders to repay loan, so we sell machine to repay." NDE Ekiti Coordinator confirmed need for off-taker guarantee to reduce loan default.

Finding 3: TVET Quality Gap

Parents willing to patronize local uniforms (Mean 3.45) but worry about quality (neatness, strong seams). TVET Head noted clusters lack certification in industrial quality control. Ward clusters need 2-week standardization course.

Finding 4: Market Readiness

Parents strongly support policy (Mean 3.60). Willing to pay N7,500 locally vs N12,000 externally. SUBEB has no existing exclusive contract with external suppliers, so policy is legally feasible

Finding 5: Production Capacity

One tailor produces 15-20 uniforms/week. 13 ward clusters of 25 women each = 325 tailors can produce 4,875-6,500 uniforms/week. Can complete 78,000 pupils (156,000 sets) in 24-32 weeks - within one term.

1. LEGAL ANCHOR FOR DRAFTING

Policy is constitutional and does not require constitutional amendment:

- Constitution S.16(2)(b): State to promote planned and balanced economic development.

- Ekiti State Public Procurement Law 2020 S.34:* Preference to local bidders and women-owned enterprises.

- Ekiti State Gender Policy 2023: 40% of empowerment contracts to women.

- NDE Act 2004 S.2(c): Mandate to secure placement/off-taker for beneficiaries.

- Precedent: Abia State Executive Order 3 of 2017 (Made-in-Aba) - upheld, created 150k jobs.

1. ECONOMIC IMPACT (ADO-EKITI PILOT ONLY)

- Market Value: N1.17bn/session retained in Ado-Ekiti

- Household Savings: N351m saved by parents (price drop N12k to N7.5k)

- Income: N3.6m turnover per tailor per session = N60k/month average

- Employment: 325 direct, 325 indirect apprentices

- Loan Repayment: NDE recovery rate projected from 42% to 85% with guaranteed orders

- IGR: 5% levy on clusters can generate N58m LGA IGR

1. INTEGRATED IMPLEMENTATION MODEL - THE TRIPOD + MARKET MODEL

For advocacy, propose Convergence Framework:

Actor 1 - TVET (Bureau of Technical Education / Federal Poly Ado):* Quality Assurance. Develop 2-week Uniform Mass Production Certificate, deploy 13 master trainers to 13 wards, certify clusters, set up Quality Control Center.

Actor 2 - NDE (Ekiti State Office):* Finance & Formalization. Provide N100k soft loan per woman at 5% interest, lease 2 industrial machines per cluster, register clusters as NDE Cooperative Enterprises, use uniform sales as repayment collateral.

Actor 3 - NFWP (State Coordinating Unit):* Mobilization & Savings. Use WLG structure to form clusters, manage 40% advance payment discipline, ensure 10% savings retention for sustainability.

Actor 4 - Ministry of Education (SUBEB/TESCOM):* Market Provision. Issue circular that uniforms must be sourced from ward clusters. Principals collect measurements, not money. Parents pay to cluster account via POS.

1. LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Immediate (0-3 months):

1. Draft Executive Order for Governor: "Ado-Ekiti LGA Pilot for Public School Uniform Localization 2026/2027 Session" - fast track without Assembly.

2. Convene Stakeholder Validation: NFWP, NDE, TVET, SUBEB, PTA, WLG leaders.

Medium Term (3-9 months):

1. Sponsor Ekiti State Public Schools Uniform (Local Content) Bill 2027. Proposed clauses:

 - Clause 3: Establishment of Ward Production Clusters

 - Clause 6: Convergence - NDE, TVET, NFWP as implementing agencies

 - Clause 7: Revolving Fabric Fund N500k per cluster

 - Clause 9: Price ceiling and standardization

 - Clause 11: Offence - diversion of orders to external vendors

Sustainability (9-12 months):

1. Scale to 16 LGAs. Include clause for QR code traceability: "Made in Ekiti Ward X by Cooperative

2. CONCLUSION

Localized uniform policy is not a tailoring policy. It is a *convergence instrument* that makes three existing federal/state investments (TVET, NDE, NFWP) work. It costs government less than N20m to pilot (machines + revolving fund) but unlocks N1.17bn local economy. It is a gender-responsive, youth employment, local content, and fiscal retention bill in one.

Policy Problem

Youth unemployment and underemployment remain significant challenges for young people in Lagos State. Many graduates and school leavers possess academic qualifications but lack practical skills, relevant work experience, access to startup capital, and connections to employers.

Proposed Policy

I propose the establishment of a Lagos State Youth Skills-to-Jobs and Entrepreneurship Initiative that will strengthen the connection between education, vocational training, and employment opportunities.

The policy should include the following measures:

1. Practical Skills Development: Expand access to free or subsidised training in digital technology, artificial intelligence, vocational trades, entrepreneurship, and other skills relevant to the labour market.

2. Paid Internship Opportunities: Establish partnerships between the state government, private companies, and small businesses to provide structured, paid internships for graduates and young people seeking work experience.

3. Youth Entrepreneurship Support: Provide transparent access to startup grants, affordable loans, business mentorship, and market opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

4. Legislative Oversight and Accountability: Require relevant government agencies to publish periodic reports on programme funding, beneficiaries, job placements, and business outcomes.

5. Inclusive Opportunities: Ensure that young people from disadvantaged communities and persons with disabilities can access these opportunities fairly.

Expected Impact

The policy would help young people acquire marketable skills, gain practical work experience, establish sustainable businesses, and contribute to the economic development of Lagos State.

Conclusion

Youth empowerment should go beyond distributing empowerment materials or organising occasional training programmes. It should create a sustainable pathway from learning to employment and entrepreneurship. Through effective legislation, adequate funding, public-private partnerships, and transparent monitoring, Lagos State can strengthen opportunities for its young population.

I believe that investing in young people is an investment in the future of Lagos State.

Digital government should not be about launching more websites or buying more computers. It should make everyday dealings with the government easier, faster, clearer, and more reliable for citizens and residents.

This proposal is for Ondo State to connect and improve its existing digital systems while ensuring no one is left behind.

What is the problem?

Many people still struggle with Ondo State government processes because they do not know where to get public information, which office handles what service, what documents are needed for a service, what fees they are expected to pay, how long the process should take, whether their applications are moving forward, and where to complain when something goes wrong.

The causes of these are government websites not efficiently developed, which lead nowhere; gateway platforms without reliable process documentation and receipts; or laws and regulations that cannot be found digitally. All of these do not improve governance.

Proper digitalisation can solve these problems, but only if the data people and the process behind government services synergise.

What Ondo State already has.

Ondo State already has some digital foundations. The official government website offers information and services, while SITA has publicised a digital-payment initiative intended to streamline government payments. Recent reports also describe Ondo Pay for personnel, payroll, and pension processes.

These are useful starting points. But inefficient and fragmented digital processes do not prove that services work well for citizens. The first step should be to check what exists, what works, what needs repair, what should be connected, and what should be built.

What is being proposed?

Ondo should build a One Government Digital Gateway.

This means one specialised platform where residents can access public information, engage public services, understand what is required of them, and follow government activities.

Make laws and regulations easier to access and engage.

Citizens should be able to find and understand the laws that affect them.

The House of Assembly should implement efforts to:

• Put current laws in a searchable public repository.
• Publish public-hearing notices and explain how people can participate.
• Provide plain-language summaries of relevant legislative documents.
• Improve internal record-keeping and document retrieval.

Connect government with data safely.

Government MDAs should be able to share information where it is necessary, lawful, and secure. Data sharing must not mean unrestricted access to people’s private information.

The framework should comply with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023 and relevant NDPC requirements.

Leave no one behind.

Not everyone has reliable internet, a smartphone, electricity, or the literacy to use digital services.

So, government should provide:

• Assisted-service points in suitable public facilities.
• Phone and in-person options for important services.
• Mobile-friendly and low-data services.
• Accessible forms for people with disabilities.
• Practical digital literacy training for residents and public workers.
• Offline alternatives for essential services.

Digitalisation should not become a barrier for someone who needs help using it to access public information and services.

Why this matters?

Ondo State does not need to start from zero. It needs to improve existing digital efforts to work better, remain reliable, and serve real people who need its services.

That is what digital government should mean: government that is easier to reach, easier to engage, easier to understand and easier to hold accountable.

What should success look like?



Success should be measured by real improvements, such as the following:

• Fewer unnecessary visits to government offices.
• Faster processing of services.
• Fewer repeated document requests.
• Reliable payments and receipts.
• More people able to find laws and follow legislative actions.
• Better access for rural residents, aged people, and people with disabilities.
• Clear public reporting on what was done and what was achieved.

A democracy works best when citizens understand the laws governing them and can follow the decisions made on their behalf. In Lagos State, there is a need to strengthen public access to legislative information and make the activities of the Lagos State House of Assembly easier for ordinary citizens to understand.

I propose the establishment of the Lagos State Open Legislature Initiative, a legislative transparency and civic information framework designed to bridge the gap between the legislature and the public.

Under this initiative, the Lagos State House of Assembly would maintain a centralised, publicly accessible digital platform containing proposed bills, their legislative status, enacted laws, accessible summaries of legislative proceedings, committee activities, public hearing notices, and relevant budgetary information.

To ensure that the initiative benefits citizens beyond legal professionals and digitally connected residents, every published bill or law should have a plain-language summary explaining its purpose, major provisions, and potential implications for the public. The Assembly should also explore periodic civic information bulletins, community engagement sessions, and accessible channels through which citizens can submit feedback on proposed legislation.

Implementation could begin through a pilot programme coordinated by the Assembly’s relevant committees and legislative information personnel, with clear publication standards, designated officers responsible for updating records, and periodic assessments of public awareness and platform usage.

Why is this necessary?

Access to legislative information enables citizens to understand their rights and obligations, scrutinise government decisions, contribute meaningfully to policymaking, and hold public institutions accountable. It can also help students, researchers, journalists, civil society organisations, and legal practitioners access reliable legislative materials.

Expected impact: Greater legislative transparency, improved civic literacy, increased public participation in lawmaking, and stronger accountability between elected representatives and the people they serve.

The central principle is simple: legislation should not only be accessible to those who understand legal language or know where to find official records. Citizens should be able to discover what their representatives are doing, understand how proposed laws may affect them, and participate meaningfully in the legislative process.

A more informed citizenry is essential to a more accountable legislature.

Proposed by: Segun Oladapo Focus: Education, ICT infrastructure, digital skills, and youth development Location: Ondo State, Nigeria

1. Policy Background

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now an important part of education. Students need digital skills to learn, solve problems, and prepare for future jobs. However, many schools face challenges such as poor computer laboratories, outdated equipment, lack of internet access, and limited ICT training for teachers and students.

Based on my experience in ICT and school support, I believe Ondo State needs a policy that goes beyond providing computers. Schools need working equipment, regular maintenance, trained teachers, and a clear plan for digital learning.

2. Proposed Policy

Ondo State School ICT Revival and Digital Learning Policy (OSIR-DLP)

The policy will ensure that every public secondary school in Ondo State has access to a functional computer laboratory, trained ICT teachers, basic digital learning tools, and regular technical support.

The goal is to make digital education available to students, regardless of their location or family income.

3. Key Areas of the Policy

i. School ICT Laboratory Assessment and Revival

Carry out a state-wide assessment of computer laboratories in public secondary schools. Repair usable computers, replace damaged equipment where necessary, and establish laboratories in schools that lack them.

ii. Digital Skills for Every Student

Introduce practical computer training, internet safety, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, coding basics, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Students should learn by using computers, not only by reading textbooks.

iii. Regular ICT Maintenance

Establish a school ICT maintenance system that includes routine inspections, repairs, equipment records, and technical support. This will help prevent computers from becoming unusable after a short period.

iv. Teacher Training and Support

Train teachers to use digital tools in teaching and learning. Provide regular support so they can confidently use computers and other technology to improve classroom activities.

v. Public-Private Partnerships

Encourage partnerships between the state government, ICT companies, schools, NGOs, and development organisations. Local ICT businesses can help with equipment, repairs, training, and technical support.

4. How the Policy Will Work

The policy can begin with a pilot programme in selected public secondary schools across urban, semi-urban, and rural communities.

The first phase will involve:

- Assessing existing ICT facilities and identifying schools with the greatest needs.

- Selecting pilot schools based on clear and fair criteria.

- Repairing and equipping laboratories.

- Training teachers and introducing practical digital lessons.

- Setting up a maintenance plan for every participating school.

- Monitoring student participation, teacher use, equipment condition, and learning progress.

After reviewing the pilot results, the government can expand the programme to more schools across the state.

5. Expected Benefits

The policy is expected to:

- Improve students' computer knowledge and digital skills.

- Prepare young people for further education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

- Help teachers use technology to improve learning.

- Reduce the gap between students in rural and urban communities.

- Reduce waste caused by poorly maintained ICT equipment.

- Create opportunities for local ICT technicians and digital trainers.

- Help students develop skills in research, problem-solving, and responsible technology use.

6. Funding and Accountability

The programme can be funded through the state education budget, partnerships with private ICT companies, corporate social responsibility projects, and grants from development organisations.

The government should publish clear information on equipment purchased, schools supported, funds spent, and results achieved. School managers, teachers, parents, and community representatives should also take part in monitoring the programme.

Success should be measured by the number of functional laboratories, computers available for student use, teachers trained, students receiving practical lessons, and equipment remaining functional over time.

7. My Role in Driving the Policy

As an ICT professional and Director of Masterpiece Digital Solutions Ltd, I can contribute technical knowledge in computer laboratory setup, ICT maintenance, digital skills training, and technology support for schools.

My experience in community engagement can also help me work with school leaders, parents, teachers, students, and government agencies to identify needs and develop practical solutions.

I would begin by conducting a small assessment of ICT facilities in selected schools and preparing a report with evidence, photographs, identified needs, and estimated costs. This report could support discussions with education stakeholders and help build support for a pilot project.

Conclusion

Ondo State needs an ICT education policy that treats computers as long-term learning tools, not just items to be purchased and distributed. By combining functional laboratories, trained teachers, practical digital lessons, regular maintenance, and public accountability, the state can give more students the skills they need to succeed in a digital world.

The central policy message is simple: Every public secondary school should have access to functional ICT facilities, and every student should have the opportunity to gain practical digital skills.

Lagos State urgently needs stronger enforcement of laws protecting People Living with HIV (PLHIV) from workplace discrimination, breaches of confidentiality, and unfair dismissal because of their HIV status.

I urge the Lagos State Government to strengthen awareness and enforcement of existing protections, establish accessible complaint mechanisms, and impose appropriate sanctions on organisations that violate the rights of PLHIV. No citizen should face discrimination because of their health status. Protecting confidentiality, employment rights, and equal opportunities will promote dignity, mental well-being, and access to healthcare.

This policy will advance SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and contribute to a more inclusive society where everyone can live and work free from stigma and discrimination.

There is need for provision of free and. quality health care services for pregnant women from the time of conception to the post natal period. This service will provide all care irrespective of the severity or expenses incurred during these periods, this will curb to the nearest minimum, mortality rates, complications resulting from being indigent. Deployment of qualified and experienced health care practitioners is equally important to avoid mismanagement and unprofessional conducts.