Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday unveiled Against All Odds, a photographic chronicle documenting his administration’s journey through some of the most defining moments in the state’s recent history, describing the publication as a visual account of resilience, leadership, continuity and the enduring spirit of Lagos.
The book, authored by the Governor’s official photographer, Mr. Ademola Olaniran, captures key moments from 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.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony attended by political leaders, traditional rulers, captains of industry and members of the diplomatic community, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the publication was unique because it documented an administration while it was still in office.
“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,” the governor said.
According to him, the book tells more than the story of a governor; it tells the story of Lagos and its people.
“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,” he said.
Reflecting on the challenges that defined his administration, Sanwo-Olu recalled the outbreak of COVID-19, 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 stated.
The governor 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.
He described continuity in governance as the greatest secret behind Lagos’ success, noting that successive administrations had built on one another’s achievements rather than dismantling them.
“Four governors holding one dream — that image represents continuity. In Lagos, we do not tear down what our predecessors built; we build upon it. I inherited dreams and have laboured to add to those foundations,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the contributions of President Bola Tinubu, former Governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, describing them as key architects of modern Lagos.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, described the publication as more than a book unveiling, 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.
According to the Deputy Governor, Against All Odds 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.
Hamzat commended Olaniran for documenting the 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.
“Some leaders are blessed with great stories, while others find great storytellers. This is a great story, and I believe it deserved to be preserved,” he said.
Olaniran noted that his duty as a photographer was not to create narratives but to faithfully document events as they unfolded.
“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.
The event concluded with the formal presentation of the book, which many guests described as a valuable visual archive of governance and development in Lagos State.
The event attracted an array of distinguished personalities, including the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum; traditional rulers, captains of industry, members of the Lagos State Executive Council, lawmakers, business leaders and other eminent Nigerians who gathered to celebrate the visual documentation of Lagos State’s governance journey under the Sanwo-Olu administration.