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Fashola Joins Board of Global Health Body, RTSL Nigeria

Fashola Joins Board of Global Health Body, RTSL Nigeria

In a significant appointment that further underscores his impact in public service, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), former Governor of Lagos State and ex-Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, has been named to the Board of Directors of Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria (RTSL Nigeria), an international public health organization dedicated to preventing cardiovascular diseases and epidemic threats.

The announcement was made public on Friday, July 18th, by RTSL Nigeria, which opened its Nigerian office in Abuja in 2022. The organization works in close collaboration with government agencies, community leaders, and public health stakeholders to address some of the world’s deadliest health challenges.

Dr. Tom Frieden, President of RTSL Nigeria and former Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), expressed confidence in Fashola’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s mission.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Fashola to the RTSL Nigeria Board of Directors. He has demonstrated a commitment to improving lives and livelihoods in Nigeria through more than two decades of public service,” Dr. Frieden said.

The appointment has also drawn commendations from global health leaders. Professor Ibrahim Abubakar, Dean of the University College London Faculty of Population Health Sciences and a fellow RTSL board member, described Fashola’s inclusion as a strategic boost to the organization.

According to Daily Post, Abubakar praised Fashola as “a valuable asset,” citing his leadership during health emergencies and deep governance experience.

Accepting the appointment, Fashola described the opportunity as an honour and pledged his support to advancing RTSL Nigeria’s goal of reducing preventable deaths across the country.

“I look forward to helping continue the progress in stopping preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases and infectious disease outbreaks,” the former governor stated.

Fashola brings a wealth of experience to the board. A two-term governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015, he was widely lauded for his role in managing Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak. His leadership during the crisis earned him international recognition, including the prestigious Stephen J. Solarz Award from the International Crisis Group.

Beyond Lagos, he served as a key cabinet member under former President Muhammadu Buhari, first as Minister of Power, Works and Housing (2015–2019) and later as Minister of Works and Housing (2019–2023). He also served as Chief of Staff to then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now the President of Nigeria.

RTSL Nigeria’s decision to bring Fashola on board signals its commitment to integrating strong governance perspectives with public health initiatives as it scales its interventions nationwide.

In a related development highlighting how former government leaders are taking up global advisory roles, Goldman Sachs recently appointed former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a Senior Adviser — a move that reflects a growing trend of experienced public officials contributing to global development, policy, and finance.

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