Babajide Sanwo-Olu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 15th Governor of Lagos State | |
| Assumed office 29 May 2019 |
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| Deputy | Obafemi Hamzat |
| Preceded by | Akinwunmi Ambode |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
25 June 1965 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
| Spouse | Ibijoke Carrena |
| Children | 4 |
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| Website |
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Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was born on June 25, 1965. He is a Nigerian politician. Since 2019, he has been the governor of Lagos State.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu became governor as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party. He won the APC primary election in 2019. This was against the governor at that time, Akinwunmi Ambode. Sanwo-Olu studied at the University of Lagos. He also attended the London Business School, Lagos Business School, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Before he became governor, he was the managing director and CEO of the Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).
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Education and Learning
Babajide Sanwo-Olu went to Government Demonstration School in Gbaja Surulere for a short time. He then finished his secondary education at Ijebu-Ife Grammar School in Ogun State. He earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Surveying. He also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Lagos.
He is also a graduate of other well-known schools. These include the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the London Business School, and the Lagos Business School. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM). He is also a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).
Career Journey
Working in Banking
From 1994 to 1997, Sanwo-Olu worked as a treasurer at Lead Merchant Bank. After that, he joined the United Bank for Africa. There, he was in charge of the foreign money market. He then moved to First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank). He worked there as a deputy general manager. Later, he became the chairman of Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited.
Serving the Public
Sanwo-Olu started his political career in 2003. He was appointed as a special adviser for corporate matters. This was to the deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro. He later became the acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget. In 2007, Governor Bola Tinubu appointed him as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.
After the 2007 General Elections, Governor Babatunde Fashola appointed Sanwo-Olu as Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions. In 2016, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made him the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC).
He helped with many important public projects. He oversaw the privatization projects of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). He also helped set up the Lagos Security Trust Fund. The LAGBUS System and the Control & Command Centre in Alausa Ikeja were also created under his guidance.
Political Path
On September 16, 2018, Sanwo-Olu announced his plan to run for governor of Lagos State. He ran under the All Progressives Congress (APC) party. This made him a strong challenger to the current governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Many important political figures in Lagos State supported him. This included the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress. It also included the Governor's Advisory Council and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Because of this support, Obafemi Hamzat, who also wanted to run, decided not to.
Sanwo-Olu won the APC primary election for governor on October 2, 2018. At the APC campaign rally on January 8, 2019, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and other parties promised to support Sanwo-Olu. He won the 2019 Lagos State gubernatorial election on March 9, 2019. He beat his main opponent, Jimi Agbaje, by a large number of votes. He became the 15th governor of Lagos State. He was sworn in on May 29, 2019, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island.
Since becoming governor, he has worked on many development projects. One major project is building many roads across the state. In 2020, Sanwo-Olu asked for the statue of Fela Kuti to be moved from Allen Avenue in Ikeja. This was done to help with traffic in that area. He also opened the Oshodi - Abule-Egba BRT Lane in 2020.
He was re-elected as governor in the 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election on March 18, 2023. He ran under the All Progressives Congress (APC) again. He won against Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) and AbdulAzeez Olajide ‘Jandor’ Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
After the election, both Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Olajide Adediran challenged Sanwo-Olu's re-election. They claimed that Sanwo-Olu's deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, was not qualified to run. They also claimed that Sanwo-Olu had presented a fake high school certificate. On September 25, 2023, the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed their challenges. The tribunal confirmed that Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat were properly elected as governor and deputy governor of Lagos State.
Awards and Recognition
Babajide Sanwo-Olu has received many awards during his career. Some of these include:
- 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).
- Special Guest of Honour awarded by Ikoyi Club 1938 Table Tennis (2025).
Family Life
Babajide Sanwo-Olu is married to Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.
See also
In Spanish: Babajide Sanwo-Olu para niños
- List of Yoruba people
- List of governors of Lagos State
