Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu[1] (born 25 June 1965)[2][3][4] is a Nigerian politician who has served as the governor of Lagos State since 2019.[5]
Babajide Sanwo-Olu | |
|---|---|
Sanwo-Olu in 2019 | |
| 15th Governor of Lagos State | |
| Assumed office 29 May 2019 | |
| Deputy | Obafemi Hamzat |
| Preceded by | Akinwunmi Ambode |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu[1] 25 June 1965[2][3][4] Lagos, Nigeria |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
| Spouse | Ibijoke Carrena |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Politician |
| Website |
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He became governor under the platform of the All Progressives Congress after contesting and unexpectedly winning the APC gubernatorial primaries against incumbent governor Akinwunmi Ambode in October 2018.[6][7] He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, London Business School, Lagos Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Before his gubernatorial ambition, he was the managing director and CEO of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).[8][9][10]
Education
Sanwo-Olu briefly attended Government Demonstration School, Gbaja Surulere before moving to Ijebu-Ife Grammar School, Ogun State to complete his secondary education.[11] He has a BSc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos.[12] He is an alumnus of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the London Business School and the Lagos Business School.[13]
He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).[14]
Career
Banking
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was the treasurer at former Lead Merchant Bank from 1994 to 1997 after which he moved to the United Bank for Africa as the head of foreign money market. He then proceeded to First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank) as a deputy general manager and divisional head. He was the chairman of Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited.[citation needed]
Public service
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu began his political career in 2003, when he was appointed a Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the then deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro. He was later made the acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget until 2007, when he was appointed as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry by then Governor, Bola Tinubu. After the General Elections of 2007, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was appointed Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions by Governor Babatunde Fashola. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was made Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2016.[8][15]
Some of his notable public sector achievements include the supervision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatization projects.[16] He set up and was the Pioneer Board Chairman of Lagos Security Trust Fund. The LAGBUS System and the Control & Command Centre in Alausa Ikeja were subsequently established under his directives.
Politics
On 16 September 2018, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu formally declared his intention to run for the office of the governor of Lagos State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) making him a major contender to the incumbent governor Akinwunmi Ambode.[16]
His declaration attracted endorsements from major stakeholders in Lagos State politics; including the Governor’s Advisory Council of the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress[17] and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly,[18] which led to withdrawal of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat,[19] a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress APC in Lagos from the gubernatorial race.
He won the Lagos gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 2 October 2018. At the APC flag-off campaign rally held on 8 January 2019, Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, and 63 political parties lent their support for the candidacy of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.[20] In a landslide victory over his opponent, Jimi Agbaje, Sanwo-Olu was elected to the Office of Governor of Lagos State at the 2019 General elections for Lagos State which held on 9 March 2019.[21] He was sworn in as the 15th Governor of Lagos State at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos Island on Wednesday 29 May 2019.[22]
He has been working on different development activities, one of which is road construction across major areas in Lagos state. Recently, Sanwo-olu asked that the statue of Fela Kuti that was erected by Akinwunmi Ambode be removed from Allen Avenue in Ikeja as he to ease the situation of traffic in that area. However, the statue is said to be relocated to a more convenient area in Lagos state.[23] The Governor commissioned the Oshodi - Abule-Egba BRT Lane amongst other projects in 2020.[24]
Awards
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has obtained a variety of awards in his career, some of which include:[15]
- Platinum award from the Lagos State Public Service Club.
- 2009 Best in Human Capital Development award from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
- Merit award from the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.
- Merit award from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management in Nigeria (CIPMN).
- Merit Award from the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN).
- LSDPC Impactful Leadership and Recognition Award.
- Media Nite-Out Award for Best Governor of the Year (2020).[25]
Personal life
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is married to Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.[26]
See also
References
- ^ a b "PROFILE: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, Nigeria [2019 — ]". Premium Times. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Buhari salutes Sanwo-Olu at 57". The Guardian. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ a b Olafusi, Ebunoluwa (25 June 2022). "He is a prime example of excellence' — Tinubu hails Sanwo-Olu at 57". The Cable. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Akeredolu greets Sanwo-Olu at 57". The Guardian. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "2023 Presidency: Sanwo-Olu mobilises APC leaders, communities for Tinubu". Vanguard News. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Adekunle (3 October 2018). "Breaking: Ebri's panel declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos APC primary". Vanguard. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Opejobi, Seun (2 October 2018). "Tinubu 'anointed' candidate, Sanwo-Olu defeats Ambode in Alausa". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ a b Nwafor, Polycarp (12 September 2018). "Babajide Sanwo-Olu: the cool, calm, dynamic technocrat who wants to unseat Ambode". Vanguard. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ Olasupo, Abisola (2 October 2018). "Ambode's deputy declares support for Sanwo-Olu". Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ "Igbo group endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term". Punch Newspapers. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ Staff, Daily Post (1 March 2019). "Infographic on Sanwo-Olu's biography". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "PROFILE: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, Nigeria [2019 --- ]". 24 January 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ Olafusi, Ebunoluwa (13 September 2018). "CLOSE-UP: Ex-UBA official, UNILAG graduate… meet Sanwo-Olu, Ambode's challenger". The Cable Nigeria. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ Lawal, Nurudeen; Omotayo, Joseph (11 March 2019). "14 facts you should know about Lagos governor-elect". legit.ng. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ a b Egbas, Jude (13 September 2018). "7 Things to know about the man who could become the next Governor of Lagos". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ a b Adeniji, Gbenga (17 September 2018). "Sanwo-Olu formally declares ambition, PDP reiterates offer to Ambode". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Adeniji, Gbenga (30 September 2018). "GAC endorses Sanwo-Olu for Lagos APC gov ticket". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Adeniji, Gbenga (29 September 2018). "Lagos APC primary: 36 lawmakers back Sanwo-Olu". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Adeniji, Gbenga (29 September 2018). "Lagos APC gov primary: Hamzat steps down for Sanwo-Olu". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Oyewole, Nurudeen (8 January 2019). . Daily Trust Newspaper. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "INEC result: Kano Govnorship Elections dey INCONCLUSIVE! - BBC Pidgin".
- ^ Oak, TV (29 May 2019). "BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu officially takes over from Ambode". Oak TV Newstrack. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- ^ "Sanwo-Olu pulls down Fela's statue to ease traffic". Pulse NG. 14 January 2020.
- ^ "Sanwo-Olu commissions Oshodi-Abule-Egba BRT corridor". The Nation Newspaper. 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Governor Sanwo-Olu others Honoured at MNA Awards". Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Opeseitan, Tunde (7 January 2020). "Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu: Celebrating a quintessential First Lady at 53". PM News Nigeria. Retrieved 29 April 2020.