On March 8, 1957, at the Creek Hospital in Lagos, Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo was welcomed as the first child of the Osinbajos. He would later become a law professor, Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Pastor, and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Oluyemi Osinbajo, who currently is the second in command in Nigeria is an astute professor of law. Dolapo nee Soyode, who also is the granddaughter of a once-powerful politician in Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo, is the wife of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Aside from all of these, he’s a Nigerian Senior Advocate (SAN), a professor of law, and a former senior partner at SimmonsCooper Partners, a global law firm and business solutions company.
In Lagos, Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo attended Corona Primary School. He further attended the Igbobi College in Yaba between 1969 and 1975.
He earned his LLB Law degree from the University of Lagos from 1975 to 1978. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School from 1979 to 1980. Following his studies at the London School of Economics, he received his Master of Laws degree in 1981.
Profile
- Date of Birth: March 8, 1957
- Place of Birth: Lagos
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Age: age 64 years
- Spouse: Dolapo Osinbajo (m. 1989)
- Office: Vice President of Nigeria since 2015
- Children: 3
- Net Worth: $1.5 million (according to Code of Conduct Bureau in 2015)
- Education: University of Lagos 1975–1978
- Books: Cases and Materials on Nigerian Law of Evidence
- Parents: Opeoluwa Osinbajo, Olubisi Osinbajo
Career As An Academia
Osinbajo did his mandatory one-year youth service as a legal officer with the Bendel Development and Planning Authority (BDPA) in the defunct Bendel State, now Edo state, from 1979 to 1980.
His brilliance, diligence, smartness were some of the rare qualities he possed that UNILAG was not ready to let go of. As such, after his NYSC programme, UNILAG called him to come to join the faculty where he graduated from.
He began working at the University of Lagos in 1981 as a law lecturer. He was just 24 years old at the time.
He was a senior lecturer of law at the University of Lagos from 1983 to 1986 and a legal advisor and litigator to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, from 1988 to 1992.
He was a Law professor and Head of the Public Law Department at the University of Lagos from 1997 to 1999.
Osinbajo was a member of Lagos State’s Cabinet from 1999 to 2007, serving as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. Between 2007 and 2013, Osinbajo worked as a Professor of Law at the University of Lagos’ Faculty of Law’s Department of Public Law.
Osinbanjo later joined SimmonsCooper Partners as a Senior Partner in 2007. He was tasked with designing and writing the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifestos in 2013, alongside other prominent Nigerians.
This added up in the release of the ‘Roadmap to a New Nigeria,’ which was the APC’s manifesto for the 2015 general elections.
The Roadmap’s highlights included a free school meal program and a conditional cash distribution to Nigeria’s 5 million poorest residents in exchange for enrolling and immunizing their children.
Additionally, there were other programs to provide economic opportunities for Nigeria’s enormous youth population.
How Osinbajo became Buhari’s running mate
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was named the running mate presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections by APC presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari on December 17, 2014.
Initially, Osinbajo political godfather was warming up to be Buhari’s running mate, but the party was advised not to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
When Tinubu decided to step down, the former Lagos state governor who appointed Osinbajo as a commissioner was given the unilateral privilege to handpick who the running would be.
Tinubu didn’t think twice before nominating the professor of law as Buhari’s running mate. That’s how the RCCG pastor became running mate and eventually emerged as the Vice President after their victory at the March 28, 2015, Presidential election.
Along with his boss, Buhari, they were sworn on May 29, 2015, at Eagle Square, Abuja, and took office.
As RCCG Pastor
Before becoming Nigeria’s Vice President, one of the most followed Nigerian politicians on X served as a Senior Pastor of Lagos Province 48’s Olive Tree Provincial Headquarters Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Ikoyi.
Despite this, Professor Osinbajo claims he is simply on assignment to the federal government and will continue to serve as the pastor-in-charge of the province.
Those are his exact words: My wife and I continue serving as the pastor’s wives in Province 48, Lagos.
Controversies about Yemi Osinbajo
When the National Social Social Investment Office (NSIO) was inaugurated, the Office of the Vice President managed the running of the programme.
NSIPs, which include four major programs (N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding, and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programs), are specifically targeted to reduce poverty and unemployment in Nigeria
It was alleged that the funds of the programme were mismanaged, but documents show that the Vice President never handled funds of the programme as being alleged.
It was later revealed that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning was in charge of the funds while Osinbajo was the Chairman of the Steering Committee.
“The Office of the Vice President WAS NOT involved in financial transactions or the disbursement of funds for the SIPs.
“The Ministry of Budget and National Planning was in charge of all matters regarding financing, budgeting, procurement and disbursement of funds allocated and released for the N-SIPs,” Sahara Reporters quoted a statement from his office.
There are nine ministers on the Steering Committee: Education; Women Affairs; Labor and Productivity; Finance; Agriculture; Health; Trade and Investment; Youth and Sports; and Information. As stated, the Advisory Committee meets regularly to discuss and approve N-SIP processes and provide updates and advice.
Utilizing technology and community members, a tripartite system is used to determine who will receive Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs). A community-based targeting approach, developed by the World Bank, was implemented from the start to ensure that the community-owned the process.
The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP) is run by the Bank of Industry (BOI), which offers interest-free loans to small enterprises at the bottom of the financial pyramid through its MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, and TraderMoni programs. In addition, the payment process is “clearly laid out.”
It was stated that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo only visits marketplaces in the states where the TraderMoni program is introduced to meet with beneficiaries. Still, he is not involved in issuing loans, whether it be in cash or through cash transfers.
Presidential Declaration
On Monday, April 11, 2022, Vice President Osinbajo declared his ambition to run for the 2023 presidential election. He made his intention known in a 7-minute video posted on his social media handles, including Twitter and Facebook.
Full Speech of Yemi Osinbajo Declaring To Run for 2023 Presidential Election
In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.
We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.
In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements.
I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms.
I have been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; & in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.
I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims in violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters.
I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.
I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.
I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and it’s great peoples, which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.
If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started, radically transforming our security and intelligence architecture:
- Completing the reform of our justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel, ensuring justice for all and the observance of rule of law
- rapidly advancing our infrastructure development, especially power, roads, railways and broadband connectivity;
- providing an excellent environment for businesses to thrive;
- Taking the agriculture revolution to the next level especially mechanization and developing the farm to table value chain
- making sure that the government, its agencies and regulators serve the business community;
- creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions;
- enhancing our Social Investment Programme to a full-scale social welfare scheme;
- completing the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within this decade;
- completing the task of ensuring that all Nigerians, male and female, attend school;
- reforming our educational system for relevance to the challenges of this century;
- completing the task of universal health coverage for all; and
- strengthening the capacity of States and Local Governments to deliver on their respective mandates.
- Above all, front and Centre of our efforts will be the provision of jobs and opportunities for our young people.
I now most solemnly and respectfully seek the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land, and the diaspora, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey that we have ahead of us.
We will, working together, establish by the grace of God, the Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation.
I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us.
Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa.
Where everywhere in this land is home for everyone , where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us.
Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respect. Where all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation.
May God bless and keep our republic.
Before his declaration, several groups and associations that were formed by the political admirers of the Vice President called on him to declare his ambition to succeed his boss.
His political godfather, Bola Tinubu, had declared his ambition and informed Buhari and Nigerians. Considering the closeness between the duo, some political analysts said they didn’t see Osinbajo declaring to run against his former boss whom he respected so much, but anything can happen since politicians are not predictable.
Net Worth:
Yemi Osinbajo is a well-to-do politician who is also among the most well-liked. According to the forms he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2015, had a cash worth of around $1.5 million, according to September 4, 2015 report by Forbes.
Is VP Osinbajo richer than Muhammadu Buhari?
Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Nigeria’s Vice President, is significantly richer than his President Muhammadu Buhari, who was estimated to be worth less than N30 million as of May 29, 2015.
Properties belonging to him are:
- A 4-bedroom residence in Victoria Garden City, Lagos
- A 3-bedroom flat in Ikoyi, Lagos.
- A 2-bedroom flat along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
- A 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England.
Shareholding in 6 private companies:
- Octogenerium Ltd.,
- Windsor Grant Ltd.,
- Tarapolsa,
- Vistorion Ltd.,
- Aviva Ltd.
- MTN Nigeria.
Car collections of Osinbajo:
- Infinity four-wheel-drive SUV,
- A Mercedes Benz sedan
- A Prado Jeep
Note:
The properties above is according to the documents he submitted in 2015. He may have added more to his portfolio and properties. He may have also been richer considering the monies political office holders make from estacodes in Nigeria and other privileges.
Memberships with different bodies.
In addition, he is a member of the following organizations:
- Council of Legal Education in Nigeria and Senior Advocate of Nigeria
- Nigeria Bar Association, NBA
- Nigerian Body of Benchers
- International Bar Association, IBA
Awards:
Following are a few of the honorary awards given to Vice president Yemi Osinbajo:
- Prof. Osinbajo conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) as the vice president on May 28, 2015.
- Adeoba Prize for English Oratory 1972–1975
- Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a recipient of several awards and honors, some of which include:
- State Merit Award 1971
- The School Prize for English Oratory, 1972
- African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker’s Prize, 1974
- Elias Prize for Best Performance in History (WASC) 1973
- School Prize for Literature (HSC), 1975
Sources:
- Featured Image By Praise World Radio
- Yemi Osinbajo. “Biography: About Prof. Osinbajo”. yemiosinbajo.ng. Retrieved January 18, 2022
- PM News (September 3, 2015). “Osinbajo richer than Buhari, worth N290m with houses in VI, Ikoyi, England”. pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022
- Sahara Reporter (August 11, 2020). “I Never Handled Funds For NSIP, Says Vice President Osinbajo”. saharareporters.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022
