Sanwo-Olu Says Strong Families Key to Deepening Tolerance in Diverse Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to residents to strengthen tolerance within their homes, insisting that family values remain central to building a peaceful and cohesive society.
Sanwo-Olu delivered the message on Sunday at the 2025 International Day for Tolerance celebration in Alausa, Ikeja.
This year’s event carried the theme “Raising a Generation of Tolerant Citizens – The Centrality of the Family.” The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin.
He noted that Lagos’ population of more than 25 million people, drawn from diverse cultures and faiths, demands a collective commitment to harmony.
According to him, the earliest lessons that shape character are taught at home, not in government institutions.
“The first lessons of empathy, respect, patience, love, and acceptance are not learned in government institutions; they are learned at home, in the family, from parents, guardians, and community elders,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted steps taken by his administration to promote religious harmony, including its engagement with Lent and Ramadan observances and the recognition of Isese Day, which protects residents’ freedom to practise their faith.
He added that government partnerships with Christian and Muslim organisations in education, healthcare, youth development and welfare continue to “build bridges across communities and strengthen the culture of mutual respect.”
Reaffirming his commitment to inclusiveness through the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda and the EKO CARES initiative, the governor urged families to demonstrate tolerance through their conduct.
“We must teach our children, by our actions even more than our words, that tolerance is not weakness. It is strength — the ability to listen without prejudice and to disagree without hostility,” he said.
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Layode, echoed the governor’s stance, describing the family as the “first classroom” where values that shape future citizens are formed.
