Abimbola Fashola

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Abimbola Emmanuela Fashola (born 6 April 1965) is a Nigerian administrator and former First Lady of Lagos State. She served as First Lady from 2007 to 2015 during the administration of her husband, Babatunde Fashola. [1][2]

Early life and education

Abimbola Emmanuela Fashola was born on 6 April 1965 in Ibadan, present-day Oyo State, Nigeria.[3]

She attended Lagoon Secretarial College, Lagos, where she obtained a diploma in Secretarial Studies before later obtaining a certificate in Computer Science from the University of Lagos.[4][5]

Career

Fashola began her career as a trainee journalist with Daily Sketch before joining the British Council in 1987. During her nineteen years with the organisation, she worked in several administrative and educational support roles before resigning in 2006 after her husband emerged as the governorship candidate of the Action Congress for the 2007 Lagos State gubernatorial election.[6][7]

As First Lady of Lagos State, she chaired the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) and supported programmes focusing on maternal and child health, youth development, education, HIV/AIDS awareness and women's empowerment.[8][9]

After leaving office, she continued her work in youth leadership and community development through the Leadership Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), a non-governmental organisation established to promote leadership, entrepreneurship and civic responsibility among young Nigerians.[10][11]

Personal life

Fashola is married to former Lagos State Governor and former Minister of Works Babatunde Fashola. They have two children.[12]

References

  1. 1."Abimbola Fashola: The Humblest First Lady in the History of Lagos". This Day. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  2. 2."Official Lagos State Website". Lagos State Government. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  3. 3."ABIMBOLA FASHOLA, SYMBOL OF HUMILITY". This Day. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  4. 4."ABIMBOLA FASHOLA, SYMBOL OF HUMILITY". This Day. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  5. 5."I don't have an eye for politics but... Abimbola Fashola". Vanguard. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  6. 6."I don't have an eye for politics but... Abimbola Fashola". Vanguard. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  7. 7."ABIMBOLA FASHOLA: Youth engagement, empowerment my priorities". The Nation. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  8. 8."Official Lagos State Website". Lagos State Government. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  9. 9."Abimbola Fashola: The Humblest First Lady in the History of Lagos". This Day. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  10. 10."Leadership deficit: Engage youths now, says Fashola". The Guardian. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  11. 11."Group seeks to empower youths". The Punch. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  12. 12."Why Abimbola and I decided to stop at two children – Fashola". The Punch. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2026.