Nigerian Politicians

Full Name: Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
State of Origin: Lagos State.
Date of Birth: 28 June 1963.
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s): Abimbola Emmanuela Fashola
Alma mater: University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State..
Occupation: Lawyer, Politician.
Position(S): Governor of Lagos State (May 29, 2007 – May 29, 2015).
Political party: All Progressives Congress (formerly Action Congress).
Religion: Islam
Twitter: @tundefashola


Early Life

Born on June 28, 1963 in Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is a truly made in Nigeria product. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate [FSLC] from the Sunny Fields Primary School, Adelabu Surulere, Lagos, after which he proceeded to Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos and later Igbobi College, Yaba from where he acquired the West African School Certificate [WASC].
He, thereafter, went to the University of Benin, Benin City and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws [LLB Hons] degree in 1987. He was called to the Nigeria Bar in November 1988 after undertaking the statutory training for Barristers and Solicitors.

For the mandatory National Youth Service Corps [NYSC] programme [1988-1989], he served in Benin, the former Bendel State now Edo State. His flourishing private legal practice, running into nearly fifteen years, saw him acquiring appreciable expertise and vast experience in such areas as Litigation, Intellectual Property [registration of trademarks], Commercial Law, Mergers, Acquisitions, Right of Issues, Ownership of Shares and Equity of Corporations, as well as Land Disputes and Chieftaincy Matters.

In the course of his distinguished legal career at Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe and Belgore; the law firm of K.O.Tinubu & Company and as Managing Partner, Lead Counsel, Babatunde Raji Fashola successfully pleaded many cases at High Courts, various divisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and he was elevated to the class of Nigerian Elite Lawyers in August 2004 when he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN], a leadership position of the Nigerian Bar and the nation’s highest legal distinction and honour for lawyers.

He was appointed Chief of Staff by the former Governor of Lagos State [Governor Emeritus], Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he later succeeded in office and served from August 16, 2002 to November 6, 2006, during which time he served as Member, State Tenders Board; Member, State Executive Council, Member, State Treasury Board, and Member, State Security Council amongst several other Ad-Hoc Committees/Panels. With the experiences he garnered he resigned voluntarily to contest for the Office of Governor of Lagos State under the platform of Action Congress [AC] Party now Action Congress of Nigeria.

He has served in various Ad-hoc Committees of the Federal Government in different capacities. He was a member of the Presidential Committee on the Review of Tariffs charged with the responsibilities of reviewing the current tariff structure and fiscal incentives in Nigeria, identifying barriers to investments and recommending strategic initiatives that would promote foreign direct investment and ultimately stimulate economic growth.

Mr. Fashola, was the Chairman of the Governor’s Forum Committees set up to formulate the Rules and Regulations guiding succession to leadership of the Forum and to review the Revenue Allocation Formula for Nigeria and make appropriate recommendations by which the State Governments will engage critical stakeholders towards finding an equitable revenue formula for the country.

Mr. Fashola, SAN is Patron, Institute of Arbitrators [CIA], Grand Patron, Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners [ANTP] Lagos State Chapter, Member, Nigeria Bar Association [NBA], Member, International Bar Association [IBA], Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria [CITN], Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Recipient of several awards and Certificates of Merit, Legal Practitioner, Administrator, Management Consultant, Team Player and a detribalised Nigerian.

Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola is an ardent sportsman who loves playing and watching football. He also enjoys swimming, billiards, snooker, lawn tennis and squash. He belongs to a number of social clubs, notably Eko Club, Island Club, Ikoyi Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and Eagle Club, Surulere, while he is Patron, Lagos Island Club; Yoruba Tennis Club, Ikeja Golf Club, City Club and the Lagos Country Club by virtue of his position as Governor of Lagos State.

Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is married to Her Excellency, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola and they are blessed with children.