Biography & Career Of Babatunde Fashola

3 years ago

Biography & Career Of Babatunde Fashola

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently the Federal Minister of Works and Housing. He served two terms as Governor of Lagos State from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015.

Babatunde Fashola Biography

Babatunde Fashola was born on June 28, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria. He began his education at the SunnyField Primary school, Adelabu, Surulere, Lagos. After, he attended Birch Freeman High school Lagos and Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos.

Thereafter, he earned a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) from the University of Benin in 1987. Then, proceeded to the Nigerian Law school and was called to bar the following year.

Legal Career

In November 1988, he was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He began as a litigator specialising in different areas at the Sofunde, Belgore and Co.

Because of his excellence in his career, he became the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2004. With this, he became the first member of the 1988 Law School to attain the position. And, the second University of Benin Faculty of Law graduate to receive the honour.

Currently, he is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Bar Association (IBA), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Also, Babatunde Fashola is a patron of the Law Students Association of the University of Benin and, Institute of Arbitrators (CIA).

Babatunde Fashola Personal Life

Fashola got married to Dame Emmanuella Abimbola in 1993. They are blessed with two children, Ademola and Olayinka.

Appointments

Babatunde was appointed Chief of Staff by the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2002. While serving there, he was a member of different boards and committees; State Tenders Board, Executive Council, Treasury Board, Security Council e.t.c.

Then, in 2007, he succeeded Bola Tinubu as the governor of Lagos state. At the end of his two term tenure as governor, Fashola was appointed a Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was the Minister for Power, Works and Housing in November, 2015. Subsequently, the Minister of Works and Housing in August, 2019.

Political Life

In April 2007, Fashola contested for the gubernatorial election under the Action Congress (Now All Progressive Congress) and emerged victorious. He defeated candidates from other political parties like Musiliu Obanikoro and Jimi Agbaje of the PDP and DPA respectively. As a result, he began his tenure on May 29, 2019 succeeding Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Next, in 2011, he also contested under the All Progressive Congress and won. This time, he won against Ade Dosunmu and Olurotimi Olulana of PDP and LP respectively.

Fashola led Lagos State from 2007 – 2015 and effected several developments especially in the areas of infrastructure. While governing, he was the Chairman of the Governor’s forum and a member of other committees of the federal government.

Awards And Recognition

International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Award, 2011
Man of the Year Award, The Guardian, 2009
Man of the Year Award, The Sun, 2009
Peace Award, Yatzhak Rabin Centre for African Development Governor of the Decade, 2009
Award of Excellence in Leadership, Martin Luther King Jnr Foundation, 2010
Man of the Year Award, The Champion, 2010
Man of the Year Award, The City People, 2012
The Corporate Governance Award, Governing Council of the Institute of Directors, 2012
Most Labour-friendly Governor’s Award, Lagos Zonal Council of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), 2012
Governor of the Year (International Revenue Generation), Newswatch Awards, 2014
The Governor of the Year (Internal Security), Newswatch Awards, 2014
Governor of the Year (Health), Newswatch Awards, 2014
One of the 100 Top Global Thinkers for 2013, Lo Spazio della Politica (LSDP), 2014
Recipient of the Stephen J. Solarz Award of the International Crisis Group of 2015
Minister of the Year, City People Magazine, 2017
Man of the Year, Silverbird Awards, 2017
Award of Excellence, Hallmark of Labour Foundation
Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Benin Alumni Association
Lagos State Public Service Club Platinum Award
Alliance for Democracy, Igbogbo Bayeku Local Government Award