Former Lagos Governor Fashola Appointed To International Health Organisation Board.
Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, former Governor of Lagos State and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria (RTSL Nigeria), a global public health organisation dedicated to combating cardiovascular diseases and epidemic threats. The announcement, made by RTSL Nigeria on Friday, 18 July 2025, marks a significant recognition of Fashola’s extensive public service record and his contributions to health crisis management. The organisation, which established its Abuja office in 2022, partners with governments and communities to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
Dr Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, welcomed Fashola’s appointment, praising his dedication to improving lives through over two decades of public service. “We are thrilled to have Mr Fashola join the RTSL Nigeria Board. His proven leadership will be invaluable in advancing our mission to prevent avoidable deaths,” Frieden said. Fashola’s pivotal role in managing Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, during which he oversaw the tracking and isolation of approximately 1,000 potentially infected individuals, earned him international acclaim, including the Stephen J. Solarz Award from the International Crisis Group.
In his acceptance remarks, Fashola expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to support RTSL Nigeria’s goals. “I am honoured to join this vital mission and look forward to contributing to efforts that stop preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases and infectious outbreaks,” he stated. His governance experience, particularly as Lagos State Governor from 2007 to 2015 and as Minister of Power, Works and Housing under President Muhammadu Buhari, was highlighted by fellow board member Professor Ibrahim Abubakar, Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences at University College London, who described Fashola as a valuable asset due to his crisis leadership expertise.
Fashola’s appointment adds to his distinguished career, which includes modernising Lagos through infrastructure projects like the introduction of air-conditioned BRT buses and the initiation of the Lagos Light Rail. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and recipient of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), his inclusion on the RTSL Nigeria board underscores his enduring commitment to public welfare. The move has been warmly received, with stakeholders optimistic about the impact of his expertise on Nigeria’s public health landscape.
