Babajide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State
| Stage Name: | Babajide Sanwo-Olu |
| Real Name: | Babajide Olusola Sanwo‑Olu |
| Occupation: | Politician |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 25th June 1965 (60 years) |
| State of Origin: | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Marital Status: | Dr. Ibijoke Claudiana Sanwo‑Olu (Wife) |
| Education: | University of Lagos |
| Known for: | Politics |
Early Life
Babajide Olusola Sanwo‑Olu was born on June 25, 1965, in Lagos State, Nigeria, into a well-known family from Lagos Island. He grew up in Lagos, raised with good values and care that helped shape his strong character. He began his early schooling at Government Demonstration School in Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos. Later, he moved to Ijebu‑Ife Grammar School in Ogun State to finish his secondary education.
Educational Background
Sanwo‑Olu earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Surveying & Geo‑Informatics from the University of Lagos, where he graduated in 1988. He also earned an MBA in Management from the same university. Beyond these, he attended London Business School, Lagos Business School, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the United States. He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), and also a member of the Nigeria Institute of Directors (NID).
Career
Private Sector and Banking
After finishing the National Youth Service, Sanwo‑Olu began his career as a seismic surveyor with United Geophysical Nigeria Ltd. between 1989 and 1991, where he worked in regions like the Niger Delta and Lake Chad area to locate oil deposits. He then started a small business called “Dial a Plumber” in 1992–1993, which taught him that small businesses need strong government support to grow.
From 1994 to 1997, he served as Treasurer at Lead Merchant Bank. He then worked as Head of Foreign Money Market at United Bank for Africa (UBA) and then as Deputy General Manager at First Inland Bank, which later became FCMB. During these years, he built strong skills in finance and banking.
Public Service
In 2003, Sanwo‑Olu joined Lagos State government as Special Adviser on Corporate Matters—first to the Deputy Governor, then to the Governor—where he helped advise on economic decisions and planning. By 2004, he became Acting Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, and later took full responsibility for that office. In 2007, he was appointed Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. Still in 2007, he moved to serve as Commissioner for Establishments, Training & Pensions, where he helped improve how civil servants were trained and paid.
Sanwo‑Olu started several important programmes for Lagos State. He helped create the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), the Lagos Security Trust Fund, and the Control & Command Centre at Alausa to improve emergency response. He also helped set up Lagos Asset Management Limited (LAGBUS) to support the public transport system and helped prepare the Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LASEEDS). He became Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSDPC) in 2016, where he improved housing and infrastructure projects.
Political Career as Governor
In September 2018, Sanwo‑Olu declared his intention to run for Governor on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform. He won the party primary election in October 2018, defeating the then‑sitting governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. On March 9, 2019, he won the Lagos State gubernatorial election in a landslide against the PDP candidate Jimi Agbaje, securing about 75.65% of the votes (739,445 votes) to Jimi’s 21.09% (206,141 votes). He was sworn in as the 15th Governor of Lagos State on May 29, 2019, with Obafemi Hamzat as his deputy.
In 2023, he was re‑elected as Governor, defeating candidates from other parties in another competitive election held on March 18, 2023.
Personal Life
Sanwo‑Olu is a Christian. He is married to Dr. Ibijoke Claudiana Sanwo‑Olu, a medical doctor and the First Lady of Lagos State. They have been married since around 1993 and have four children—two sons and two daughters. His wife is known for supporting health and educational programmes in the state. One of their daughters got married in April 2024 in a ceremony attended by prominent Nigerians.
Controversies
Sanwo‑Olu has faced some criticism during his time as Governor. In April 2020, during the COVID‑19 pandemic, his administration was accused of mismanaging relief funds. Critics said a private company, Alpha Beta LLC, received inflated monthly payments—from ₦800 million to ₦2.5 billion—for tax processing administration. The opposition party demanded an investigation, suggesting possible misuse or political favoritism.
Another serious controversy relates to the EndSARS protests in October 2020. Sanwo‑Olu imposed a curfew in Lagos. Later, soldiers and police came to disperse protest crowds at Lekki Toll Gate. A judicial panel reported that at least nine people died, calling the event a “massacre”. Sanwo‑Olu set up a white paper committee that disputed those findings. This disagreement brought strong criticism from civil society groups and protesters.
There was also a widely shared video in early 2024 of Sanwo‑Olu confronting a Nigerian soldier in public, saying “I will lock you up”. On social media, some Nigerians viewed his tone as too strong for a sitting governor and raised questions about whether this showed respect for the rule of law.
Social Media Presence
Governor Sanwo‑Olu is active on social media platforms. In 2022, it was estimated that he had about 1.7 million followers on platforms like Twitter, making him one of the most followed governors in Nigeria. In December 2024, he spoke at a social media event in Lagos, where he said the state planned to use social media to help economic growth, fight fake news, and improve society’s well‑being. He often uses social media to announce government projects, share achievements, and sometimes respond to critics. Many Lagosians follow his pages to stay informed about his decisions and plans for the state.
Net Worth
Estimates of Sanwo‑Olu’s net worth vary. As of 2025, one estimate places his fortune at around ₦45 billion, which is about US$30 million (using an exchange rate of ₦1,500 per dollar). Another older estimate (around 2023) valued his net worth at roughly ₦10 billion (about US$27 million), based on his business ventures, house investments, and political career.
His wealth came from years of work in banking, corporate finance, consultancy, real estate, and from serving in government roles that placed him in leadership positions at Lagos State. He is believed to own houses in Lagos and Abuja and may have investments in other ventures.
