The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled Tolani Animashaun as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The unveiling took place on Thursday at Amber Residence in Ikeja, Lagos, with the party’s state chairman, King Okunnege, and other party stakeholders in attendance.

Animashaun, an indigene of Ikorodu, has more than three decades of experience spanning banking, education, international development and politics. She previously worked at Eko International Bank, where she managed public sector and corporate accounts, and served on the board of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

She later worked as a teacher and founded Trust Educational Consults, an organisation that creates opportunities for young Nigerians to study French language and culture in France and Switzerland.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in European Studies, with French and Economics, from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom. She also has a postgraduate qualification in Strategic and Defence Studies with International Relations from the École des Hautes Études Internationales in Paris.

Doherty said he selected Animashaun based on her qualifications, experience and the value of diversity in leadership. He noted that women had consistently served on the executive teams and boards he led in the private sector.

Animashaun expressed gratitude to the party leadership and supporters, saying she accepted the responsibility because she believed in the possibility of building a Lagos where government placed residents’ needs at the centre of its decisions.

At the event, Doherty also presented the party’s 34-point manifesto, titled Ònà Tuntun, meaning “New Road” or “New Way”. The document outlines proposals covering healthcare, education, housing, transportation, environmental management, employment, small businesses and accountable governance.

The candidate promised free healthcare for mothers and teenagers up to the age of 16, including medicines and medical consumables. He also pledged free public education, including examination fees, and one nutritious meal daily for pupils in public schools. Children who need assistance would also receive free public transport to school.

Doherty said the party planned to create 500,000 jobs through initiatives including the establishment of about 30 technical and vocational schools to equip young people with practical skills.

On housing, he pledged to facilitate the delivery of 150,000 homes within four years by making land available and using government guarantees to attract private investment.

He also promised to protect market women and small businesses from unauthorised levies, establish a reporting channel for extortion and modernise the state’s transport system. Workers currently operating within the transport sector, he said, would be trained and integrated into the proposed system to protect their livelihoods.

On governance, Doherty pledged to review major public-private partnerships in Lagos and publish the findings. He also promised stricter enforcement of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, improved transparency in public spending and regular reports on his administration’s performance.

The NDC said its proposals were designed to address residents’ everyday concerns and improve public services if elected in the 2027 governorship election.