Why Lagos is considered the apex of Nigeria with regards to development? Simple: the best brains and visionaries in the country have taken residence there. Tomorrow May 17, one of those overseeing this illustrious city will clock 49. This is Tokunbo Philip Wahab, the celebrated special adviser on education to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The good people of Lagos might have a bone to pick with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government, but not with respect to the education sector. Why? Because Sanwo-Olu set up a paragon of excellence to supervise and commandeer the sector—Tokunbo Philip Wahab. Wahab has induced a radiance in the sector that has not been seen anywhere else in the country. The efforts of Tokunbo Wahab can be summed up in one word: effective.

As if he has sworn to deify learning, Wahab has not failed in any of his endeavours to ensure that education is a right available to all willing Lagosians, regardless of their age, ethnicity or religious persuasion. His accomplishments to this effect make folks forget that he is a lawyer by training, not an educator.

The most recent landmark of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government, the Eko Digital Initiative, has Tokunbo Wahab as its initiator. This Initiative guarantees that willing Lagosians have access to modern/technological resources that would foster learning (at primary, secondary and tertiary levels) without much impediment. What about all the libraries and ICT centres popping up in even the most remote corners of Lagos? All to Tokunbo Wahab’s credit. Of course, even if he hides his involvement, as he does with his philanthropy, no other government official in Nigeria advocates digital approaches to education more than him.

Thus, a step away from clocking 50, Tokunbo Wahab has contributed enough to earn him the praises of all of Lagos. That is what he is getting tomorrow for his 49th birthday.