- Dr. Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, graduates with a PhD in Project Management from LASU on August 19.
- His thesis examined diaspora engagement and construction project performance in Lagos State.
- A thanksgiving reception follows on August 21.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first cousin and Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs (LASDA), Dr. Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, is set to graduate with a PhD in Project Management from Lagos State University (LASU).
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the graduation ceremony, holding on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the LASU Ojo Campus, will be followed by a thanksgiving reception on Friday, August 21, at a venue to be communicated to invited guests.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Dr. Sanwo-Olu completed his doctorate at the university’s Faculty of Management Technology, Department of Project Management. His research, titled “Diaspora Engagement and Construction Project Performance in Lagos State,” examined the intersection of diaspora participation and the built environment, an area that mirrors his professional and public service background.
In a statement announcing the milestone, Dr. Sanwo-Olu described the achievement as the product of years of sustained effort.
“The journey wasn’t always easy, but it reminded me that dreams may take time, but with God, perseverance and purpose, we can go further than we imagined,” he said.
He explained that the thesis drew directly from his dual experience in diaspora affairs and real estate practice, noting that his research focused on “bringing together my work with the diaspora and my professional experience in the built environment.”
Dr. Sanwo-Olu also used the announcement to encourage others pursuing academic or professional goals.
“To everyone pursuing a dream: keep going. Trust God, stay focused and remain faithful to your path,” he said, adding that he was “deeply grateful to my family, friends, colleagues, mentors and supervisors” who supported him through the process.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu is a Nigerian-British public relations and leadership consultant who currently serves as Executive Assistant to the Lagos State Governor and pioneering Head of LASDA, an office he conceptualised while serving as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora and Foreign Relations between 2019 and 2023.
Beyond his role in government, he is a registered Estate Surveyor and Valuer with a longstanding interest in real estate. He holds professional affiliations including MNIPR, MCIPR, ANIVS and RSV, alongside academic qualifications spanning a PgCert, PgDip, MSc, MA and MILD, in addition to his newly completed PhD.
The LASDA boss began his career in Nigeria’s real estate and banking sectors before relocating to the United Kingdom, where he worked as a business consultant, financial protection adviser and youth development officer.
In 2014, he founded Diaspora PR Ltd, a media and publicity outfit serving clients across the African diaspora, and has worked with organisations including the Nigerian High Commission in London, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the House Committee Chairman on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Rita Orji. He also founded DiasporaNews.ng and runs a social enterprise, TheDreamFoundation.ng.
FURTHER READING
Dr. Sanwo-Olu’s graduation adds an academic credential to a career built largely around diaspora engagement and public administration, and comes as LASDA — the office he pioneered — continues to shape Lagos State’s outreach to Nigerians abroad.
Click to watch the video of the week below:
