By Eric Elezuo
Born Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo on March 8, 1957, Yemi Osinbajo as he has come to be known has proved bookmakers wrong as a seasoned administrator, especially as the number two citizen of the most populous black nation in the world, having surpassed expectations.
He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor of Law and until his inauguration as Vice President, a Senior Partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice.
Osinbajo had his early education at the prestigious Corona Primary School, in Lagos, from where he attended Igbobi College Yaba, between 1969 and 1975. In 1975, he gained admission into the University of Lagos to study Law, and graduated in 1978 with a LLB Law degree.
From 1979 to 1980, he attended Nigerian Law School, and in 1981, he was awarded a Master Laws having attended the London School of Economics earlier.
Osinbajo served the compulsory one year youth service as a legal officer with Bendel Development and Planning Authority (BDPA), old Bendel State. After service in 1981, he was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos. He started lecturing at the age of 23.
From 1983 to 1986, he was Senior lecturer of Law at the University of Lagos. In 1988, he was an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola, a post he served in till 1992.
In 1997 through to 1999, he was made Professor of Law and Head of Department of Public Law, University of Lagos.
In 1999, Osinbajo delved into politics when he was appointed a member of Lagos State Cabinet as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He was in office till 2007
After his stint at politics, he returned to the classroom in 2007 and was once again employed as a Professor of Law, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos. He served till 2013 In the same 2007, Osinbajo was made Senior Partner, Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors), Nigeria while also a Senior lecturer at the Lagos State University.
It is worthy of note that Yemi Osinbajo is a notable clergy, and was the Pastor in charge of the Lagos Province 48 (Olive Tree provincial headquarter) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikoyi before his inauguration into office as the Vice President of Nigeria. He however still insists that he remains the pastor-in-charge of the said province and he is only on loan to the Federal Government. In his words, “Just like Pastor Ibitayo has said we are on loan. I am still the pastor-in-charge of Province 48 in Lagos and my wife remains wife of the pastor-in-charge and wife of the Vice President.”
At inception of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, he was among other notable Nigerians, who designed and produced a manifesto for the new political party – “Roadmap to a New Nigeria”, with highlights such as a free schools meal plan among other mouth-watering plans,
On 17 December 2014, Osinbajo was announced as the running mate and vice-presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections by the presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari.
Osinbajo became the Vice President on May 29, 2015 after Buhari won the March 28, 2015 elections.
Ever since, he has performed the duties of the Vice President creditably including being the acting President for a period of 150 days when his principal was away on medical grounds.
He has among other things oversaw the economic planning team, report, as well as make recommendations to the president who takes the final decision. He is living his campaign of feeding a school child a meal per day.
Other roles Osinbajo had been involved in include:
- Staff Member, United Nations Operations in Somalia, Justice Division, UNOSOM II.
- Member, United Nations Secretary General’s Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of UN, Peacekeeping Personnel around the globe, Member, 2006.
- Partner in Law Firm of Osinbajo, Kukoyi & Adokpaye.
- Senior lecturer at faculty of law, Lagos State University Lecturing public law.
Osinbajo is married to the delectable Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and they are blessed with three wonderful children together.
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