EARLY YEARS:
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was born into the illustrious Sanwo-Olu family of Lagos Island on June 25, 1965, and he has grown to become a symbol of integrity, hard work, diligence, selflessness and empathy that are second nature to his worthy family.
A scion of the Sanwo-Olu family of 65, Omididun Street, Lagos. Babajide had the privilege of proper and quality upbringing, which has continued to guide his path through life.
MARRIAGE AND RELIGION:
He is happily married to Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, a Medical Doctor with 27 years of professional practice, and their marriage is blessed with lovely children.
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is a devout Christian and a firm believer in humanity.
EDUCATION:
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Government, London Business School and the Lagos Business School.
He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Surveying & Geo-Informatics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.
His early education was at Government Demonstration School, Gbaja, Surulere and Ijebu-Ife Grammar School, Ogun State.
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is an associate member of the Chartered Institue of Personnel Management (CIPM). He is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), and Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).
PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
Prior to his banking career, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu worked (Post – NYSC) as a Seismic Surveyor with United Geophysical Nigeria Ltd (a seismic data acquisition company) in a role which took him around the whole Niger Delta and Lake Chad region, prospecting crude oil for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and NNPC between 1989 and 1991.
Like every entrepreneurial mind and adventurous youth, he tried his young hands on a start-up business by starting a company called “Dial a Plumber” with his funds between 1992 and 1993. The experience garnered from the venture made him realise that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) require a considerable amount of government support to thrive.
His valuable experience garnered from executive-level roles in both the private and public sectors have not only distinguished him From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was a Treasurer at the former Lead Merchant Bank. He later joined United Bank for Africa (UBA) as the Head of Foreign Money Market, and subsequently moved to First Inland Bank Plc (now First City Monument Bank, where he retired as Deputy General Manager and Divisional Head.
His valuable experience garnered from executive-level roles in both the private and public sectors have not only distinguished him but also made him a valuable resource to some notable organisations on whose boards he served.
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s board roles include being the chairman of Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited.
PUBLIC SERVICE:
His public service career began in 2003, when he was appointed Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the then Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro, and later Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Due to outstanding performance, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was appointed acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget. He went on to become the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry under Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2007.
After the General Elections in 2007, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was appointed Commissioner for Establishments, Training, and Pensions by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
His meritorious service to Lagos State continued when Governor Akinwumi Ambode appointed him as the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development Property Corporation (LSDPC) in 2016.
He is a board member of the Department for International Development (DFID/DEEPEN) Fund and Caverton Offshore Services Group, where he served on the Audit Committee.
His remarkable aptitude in policy formulation, implementation & monitoring, innovation architecture & solution design, has also earned him a seat at important decision-making tables in Lagos State. Some of these include being the Chairman of the State Consultancy Board, membership of the State Tenders Board and serving on New Projects Initiation and Promotion Committee. Mr. Sanwo-Olu, in addition to his love for public speaking, is a member of numerous prestigious clubs which include Ikoyi Club 1938, the Island Club and Yoruba Tennis Club.
On the 16th of September 2018, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu formally declared to run for the office of the Governor of Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). His declaration attracted endorsements from major stakeholders in Lagos State politics, including the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State Council Chairmen and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He went on to win the Party primary elections and became the APC candidate for Lagos State Gubernatorial elections which took place in March 2019. An election he won by a landslide and was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the next governor of Lagos State.
This is who we have all come to know Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu as. However as we hop on the train towards a greater Lagos, his administrative leadership will tell for certain who Mr. Sanwo-Olu really is.
