YEMI OSINBAJO

Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo born 8 March 1957, is a distinguished Nigerian lawyer, professor, and politician who served as the 14th vice president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he previously served as the Attorney General of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and holds the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Osinbajo was born in Lagos in 1957 and pursued his early education at Corona Primary School and Igbobi College in Lagos. His academic excellence was evident early on, as he won numerous awards during his time at Igbobi College, including prizes for English oratory and literature. He then proceeded to the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree in Law, followed by a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics in 1980.

After completing his education, Osinbajo embarked on a dual career in academia and law practice. He began teaching at the University of Lagos in 1981 and later became a Senior Lecturer. Concurrently, he practiced law, eventually becoming a Senior Partner at Simmons Cooper Partners in 2007. His legal career also included notable roles such as serving as Senior Special Adviser to Nigeria's Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola.

In 1999, Osinbajo was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State under Governor Bola Tinubu. During his tenure, he implemented significant legal reforms and contributed to the development of Lagos State's judicial system. After serving two terms, he returned to academia and his law practice while also fulfilling his pastoral duties at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Osinbajo's political career took a significant turn in 2014 when he was chosen as the running mate to APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari. Their ticket won the 2015 election, and Osinbajo was sworn in as vice president on 29 May 2015. He played a critical role in economic planning and occasionally served as acting president during Buhari's medical absences, making decisive decisions that sometimes sparked controversy.

Throughout his vice presidency, Osinbajo was known for his eloquence, often delivering speeches without reading from prepared texts. His tenure included efforts to address issues such as hate speech, economic sustainability, and social media regulation. He survived a helicopter crash in 2019 and continued to advocate for policies supporting Nigeria's development.

After leaving office in 2023, Osinbajo continued to contribute to global and national causes. He chaired the Commonwealth observation group for Sierra Leone's 2023 presidential elections and was appointed Global Advisor for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. He also founded Future Perspectives, an organization aimed at empowering young people with skills for innovation and policy implementation.

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