Babajide Sanwo-olu – For the ‘Investment & Development Leadership Award’ at the MOI Awards 2025

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is a Nigerian politician and seasoned public servant, currently serving as the Governor of Lagos State.

Hailing from Lagos, he has built a reputation as a forward-thinking leader with a strong focus on urban development, investment, and economic growth. Sanwo-Olu’s educational journey reflects his commitment to excellence.

He attended Government Demonstration School, Gbaja, Surulere, and completed his secondary education at Ijebu-Ife Grammar School, Ogun State. He holds a BSc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos, and has further honed his leadership and governance skills at the London Business School, Lagos Business School, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Developments.

Sanwo-Olu entered politics in 2003 as Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State. He went on to hold key positions, including Acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and Commissioner for Establishments, Training, and Pensions

Notable Achievements of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The state has given grants to researchers and startups through LASRIC. In December 2023, officials said more than ₦500 million went to over forty startups. In August 2025, a new round of ₦75 million in grants was awarded, with ₦5 million each to a new group of innovators and researchers.

Through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, small businesses received loans and support. In 2024, about ₦1.17 billion was disbursed to around 4,600 micro and small businesses, with a high repayment rate. Since 2019, officials say tens of billions of naira have gone into loans and grants to help businesses start, grow, and hire.

Since 2019, the government reports about four thousand public classroom blocks that have been built or renovated. In 2025, new classroom blocks opened in areas such as Ikorodu and Kosofe.
Through the EKOEXCEL programme, more than thirteen thousand public-school teachers now use tablets with guided lesson plans to improve teaching in primary schools.

The Blue Line Rail (Marina to Mile 2, Phase 1) started commercial passenger service on September 4, 2023.
The Red Line Rail (Agbado to Oyingbo, Phase 1) was inaugurated on February 29, 2024 and began paid service on October 15, 2024. It serves stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.
The Oshodi to Abule-Egba BRT corridor, about 13.6 km long, was commissioned on August 11, 2020. It added stations, pedestrian bridges, and e-ticketing to cut travel time.

Massey Children’s Hospital on Lagos Island is being rebuilt as a modern pediatric centre. The government said it should be ready in 2025.
A new 280-bed Ojo General Hospital along the Lagos-Badagry axis is planned to open by December 2025 after site checks done in 2025.
The state also reports upgraded and expansions at Mother and Child Centres and primary health facilities in places like Epe, Ajah, Badagry, and Igando.

Awards and Recognition

Sanwo-Olu’s career has been recognised with multiple awards, including:

• Platinum Award, Lagos State Public Service Club
  
• Best in Human Capital Development Award (2009), Industrial Training Fund
  
• Merit awards from the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN)
  
• LSDPC Impactful Leadership and Recognition Award
  
• Media Nite-Out Best Governor of the Year (2020)
  
• Special Guest of Honour, Ikoyi Club 1938 Table Tennis (2025)

Babajide Sanwo-Olu exemplifies the essence of investment and development leadership. His transformative policies in infrastructure, urban planning, and governance have strengthened Lagos State’s position as a leading economic and development hub.

His nomination for the Investment & Development Leadership Award at the MOI Awards reflects his enduring commitment to progressive leadership, strategic vision, and sustainable development.

In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Governor Sanwo-olu will receive the honorary “Investment & Development Leadership Award” at the MOI Awards 2025, on November 29, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.