Babatunde Fashola is a Nigerian politician and lawyer; he was conferred a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2004. Also, he served as the 13th Governor of Lagos state from 2007 – 2015.
Thereafter, he was appointed minister of power, works & housing by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and Minister of Works & Housing in 2019.
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Fashola is one of the highly revered politicians in Nigeria whose contribution and effort to improving the state of the nation is laudable. He has served in different leadership capacities both at the state and national level.
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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.
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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).
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Babatunde Fashola Personal Life
Fashola got married to Dame Emmanuella Abimbola in 1993. They are blessed with two children, Ademola and Olayinka.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Babatunde Fashola Quotes
“There is nothing divine in money making. It is entrepreneurship, production and hard work.”
“The concept of loyalty is a very strange concept. When loyalty is to be tested, the real answer is that may it never be.”
“Who want to benefit from the commonwealth must contribute to the common purse.”
“There are times we spent money when we shouldn’t, the choices we make define the results we get.”
“Yes, God is a miracle worker. I believe, but he is not an unjust God who rewards those who make no effort at the expense of those who do.”
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“Actions must have consequences.”
“The unfortunate thing about money is that it always raises suspicion even amongst brothers.”
“There is a lot of work ahead of us in spite of what we have done before…”
“We must decide for ourselves what quality of life we are willing to accept as a people…”
“In all my public life, nobody can accuse me of giving my word and going back on my word.”
“The consequence to making the promises is the right to accountability.”
“A mind taken over by fear cannot express free will and will therefore not fully optimize or benefit from the other freedoms.”
“The right to freedom of movement is not absolute. It carries responsibility of not to be a nuisance.”
“There is character, vision, courage, empathy, compassion and many more attributes that you simply will not find in a classroom or school.”
“…If the leadership of any country is worth living for, it must be worth dying for.”
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Lesson From The Life Of Babatunde Fashola
Excellence
Basically, to grow beyond your present condition, you need to start doing small things in great ways.
Fashola is a man of excellence. He portrays an uncommon dedication to work in public service. Thus, some see him as a bright hope for the future of Nigeria because of his excellence.
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Entrepreneurship is about doing excellently what you are called to do. So, are you a manufacturer? Then, manufacture quality products. Are you a service based organisation? Deliver an excellent service accordingly. There is no room for mediocrity in the race of success.
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