Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (born June 25, 1965) is a Nigerian Politician and the current Governor of Lagos State. He was announced the governor under the platform of the All Progressives Congress after contesting and unexpectedly winning the gubernatorial primaries under the All Progressives Congress against incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in October 2018.[1][2] He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, as well as the London Business School, Lagos Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Before his gubernatorial ambition, He was the Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).[3][4]

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
Sanwo-Olu in 2019
15th Governor of Lagos State
Assumed office
May 29, 2019
Preceded byAkinwunmi Ambode
Personal details
Born
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

(1965-06-25) 25 June 1965
Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Alma materUniversity of Lagos
London Business School
Lagos Business School
Institute of Management Development
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Education

Sanwo-Olu has a B.Sc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos. He is an alumnus of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the London Business School and the Lagos Business School.[5]

He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).[6]

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.

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.[3][7]

Some of his notable public sector achievements include the supervision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatization projects.[8] He set up and was the Pioneer Board Chairman of Lagos Security Trust Fund. The LAGBUS System and the Control & Command Centre in Alausa 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) Party, making him a major contender to the incumbent governor Akinwunmi Ambode.[8]

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[9] and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly,[10] which led to withdrawal of Dr. Femi Hamzat,[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] He was sworn in as the 15th Governor of Lagos State at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos Island on Wednesday May 29, 2019.[14]

He has been working on different development activities, one of which is road construction across major areas in Lagos state. Recently, Babajide Sanwoolu 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.[15]

Controversy

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanwo-Olu was reported to have mismanaged relief funds for the pandemic. The PDP opposition party called for an enquiry into the expenditure.[16]

Awards

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has obtained a variety of awards in his career, some of which include:[7]

  • 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.

Personal life

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is married to Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.[17]

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See also

References
  1. Adekunle (October 3, 2018). "Breaking: Ebri's panel declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos APC primary". Vanguard. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  2. Opejobi, Seun (October 2, 2018). "Tinubu 'anointed' candidate, Sanwo-Olu defeats Ambode in Alausa". Daily Post. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  3. Nwafor, Polycarp (September 12, 2018). "Babajide Sanwo-Olu: the cool, calm, dynamic technocrat who wants to unseat Ambode". Vanguard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  4. Olasupo, Abisola (October 2, 2018). "Ambode's deputy declares support for Sanwo-Olu". Guardian. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  5. Olafusi, Ebunoluwa (September 13, 2018). "CLOSE-UP: Ex-UBA official, UNILAG graduate… meet Sanwo-Olu, Ambode's challenger". The Cable Nigeria. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  6. Lawal, Nurudeen; Omotayo, Joseph (March 11, 2019). "14 facts you should know about Lagos governor-elect". legit.ng. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  7. Egbas, Jude (September 13, 2018). "7 Things to know about the man who could become the next Governor of Lagos". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  8. Adeniji, Gbenga (September 17, 2018). "Sanwo-Olu formally declares ambition, PDP reiterates offer to Ambode". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  9. Adeniji, Gbenga (September 30, 2018). "GAC endorses Sanwo-Olu for Lagos APC gov ticket". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  10. Adeniji, Gbenga (September 29, 2018). "Lagos APC primary: 36 lawmakers back Sanwo-Olu". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  11. Adeniji, Gbenga (September 29, 2018). "Lagos APC gov primary: Hamzat steps down for Sanwo-Olu". Punch Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  12. Oyewole, Nurudeen (January 8, 2019). "Gunshots at Lagos APC rally as 63 parties endorse Sanwo-Olu". Daily Trust Newspaper. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  13. https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/live/tori-47468810
  14. Oak, TV (May 29, 2019). "BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu officially takes over from Ambode". Oak TV Newstrack. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  15. "Sanwo-Olu pulls down Fela's statue to ease traffic". Pulse NG. January 14, 2020.
  16. Opejobi, Seun (April 6, 2020). "Coronavirus: Lagos Gov, Sanwo-Olu must be probed - PDP vows". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  17. Opeseitan, Tunde (January 7, 2020). "Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu: Celebrating a quintessential First Lady at 53". PM News Nigeria. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
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