Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has been named Champion Newspapers 2010 Man of the Year. In a statement in Lagos, Managing Director and Editor-in- Chief of Champion Newspapers, Mr. Ugo Onuoha, said Fashola's emergence for the award was the outcome of independent assessment of his first term in office and particularly in the last year, in the implementation of programmes and promises made to the electorate. Mr. Onuoha said: "Among the projects which made Fashola stand out are the building of 12 ultra modern general hospital complexes across the state; recruitment of more medical personnel, free medicare for pregnant women, nursing mothers and kids below age five."

On education, Mr. Onuoha listed Fashola's achievements to include rehabilitation of schools and provision of learning facilities; free education, payment of exam fees for SS3 students in public schools both in WEAC and NECO yearly among others.

Already, Fashola has accepted the award which will be formally conferred on him soon.

In a letter acknowledging and accepting the award, Gov Fashola through the Chief of Staff, Olanrewaju M. Babalola, said: "While formally accepting this Award on behalf of his team, His Excellency considers it gratifying and encouraging to note that the modest effort of this administration, in the last three and behalf years, to better the of the average Lagos resident is meeting the approval of the critical segments of the society, especially the media.

"The areas which you have graciously pointed out in your letter, are indeed,. The core of the policy framework of the team of dedicated public servants whom the Governor leads and has given undiluted attention since the inception of the administration for the simple fact that in them lies the capacity to liberate the human potential for the total development of our state."

Fashola is not new to awards. He is the recipient of the 2009 Yikzak Rabin Centre for African Development Governor of the Decade for Peace Award and the recipient of the 2010 Award of Excellence in Leadership of the Martin Luther King Jnr. Foundation.

He is the recipient of the 2009 Good Governance Award from the United Kingdom-based African Business Magazine.

Both nationally and internationally, he is acclaimed as one of the bright hopes for the future of Nigeria; one of the very progressive governors determined to reclaim Nigeria's past glories through competent and transparent leadership.

In the past three and a half years, Mr. Fashola has demonstrated excellence and uncommon commitment to his avowed pledge to lead the change that would transform Lagos into Africa's model mega-city.

Fashola is Patron, Institute of Arbitrators; Grand Patron, Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners [ANTP] Lagos State Chapter, Member, Nigeria Bar Association [NBA], Member, International Bar Association [IBA], Associate, 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, billiard, 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 and the Lagos Country Club by virtue of his position as Governor of Lagos State.

Daily Champion/04/03/2011