Lagos: A Lagos traditional ruler, Oniru of Iru, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, has urged policymakers, professionals, and academics to collaborate more closely to shape the future of urban governance. Oba Lawal spoke at the 2026 Distinguished Personality Lecture Series of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lecture theme was ‘Urban Governance and the Knowledge Economy: Strengthening Institutions for a 21st Century Lagos’. Oba Lawal described urban governance reform as a continuous process, emphasizing the importance of translating expansion into resilience. He highlighted that cities thrive when they invest in institutional capacity and manage disruptions creatively.
The traditional ruler underscored the initiatives taken by Lagos State in agriculture, tourism, transportation, traffic management, and institutional reforms. He emphasized the necessity of supporting these efforts with research, innovation, and data-driven decision-making to achieve sustainable development. Collaboration with stakeholders and communities was deemed vital for strengthening a knowledge-based economy.
Lawal pointed out the rapid growth of Lagos as one of the world’s fastest-growing urban regions, which places pressure on infrastructure, institutions, and social systems. He stressed that Lagos is increasingly shaped by knowledge, skills, data, innovation, and human capital, and managing this intersection would determine the future of the city. He noted that the past two decades have marked a shift towards knowledge-based governance in Lagos.
The traditional ruler explained that urban governance in a megacity like Lagos fundamentally differs from smaller environments. He emphasized that the knowledge economy involves organizing intelligence, data, skills, institutions, and learning to solve problems, and that governance plays a crucial role in creating a functioning knowledge economy. Lawal cited the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit system as an example of institutional learning and its impact on mobility and affordability.
Lawal also highlighted the role of traditional leadership in modern governance, stating that traditional institutions provide legitimacy, social trust, and community engagement, especially during periods of disruption and reform. He urged policymakers to protect and professionalize institutions for maturity, emphasizing that governance reform is a process, not an event.
Addressing the youth, Lawal said that cities are shaped by everyday institutional decisions, not only grand plans. He emphasized the importance of critical thinking, ethical action, and intelligent adaptation in shaping the future. He concluded that 21st-century governance involves building institutions that can learn under pressure, highlighting that cities succeed by learning faster than pressure accumulates.
In her remarks, LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, described the lecture as a platform for critical thinking and engagement, stressing the importance of producing graduates capable of meaningful societal contributions. She remarked that knowledge becomes valuable when applied responsibly to solve societal problems, and strong institutions transform ideas into functional systems.
Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, described the lecture as bridging scholarship, leadership, and public policy. She underscored the importance of informed leadership, inclusive governance, and strong institutions and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to legislative frameworks promoting good governance.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Dapo Asaju, called for renewed appreciation of Africa’s intellectual and governance heritage, highlighting the historical roles of traditional rulers in society. The lecture concluded with a call for integrity, courage, and responsibility in addressing Lagos’ urban and governance challenges.