Olajide Abiodun Babatunde is an accomplished urban planner with a strong background in land administration, geographic information, and development planning. He holds a doctorate in Development Planning and is an alumnus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Swede Survey AB, University College London, and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Babatunde served as the pioneer Special Adviser (cabinet rank) for the Lagos Enterprise Geographic Information Service (eGIS) & Planning Matters. Prior to this, he was a consultant to the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Matters. He also worked as Special Assistant (Land Matters) to FCT Minister Nasir el Rufai, and as a Personal Assistant in the Presidency under President Olusegun Obasanjo, focusing on diaspora, G77, and FCT issues.
As a key member of the Nelson Mandela Institution (NMI), Babatunde contributed to the development of 11 university campuses across Africa, including the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja and the African Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) in Tanzania. His work extended to creating the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), revitalizing Abuja’s neighborhood centers, and spearheading major land and infrastructure projects like the FCT’s digital mapping and waste management automation.
Between 2003-2007, he played a significant role in restoring the Abuja Master Plan and initiated Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, including bus-shelter services. He also served as Secretary of the Honorary Ministerial Advisory Committee on FCT matters.
Babatunde is married to Dr. Mouzayian Khalil-Babatunde, and they have a daughter, Valerie Oluwatobiloba. A lover of art and philanthropy, he supports several charities, including the Ibadan Music Society of Nigeria (IMUSON) and the Dosu Babatunde Foundation. His life exemplifies service, hard work, and patriotism.