Yemi Osinbajo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yemi Osinbajo
SAN GCON
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Osinbajo in 2017
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| 14th Vice President of Nigeria | |
| In office 29 May 2015 – 29 May 2023 |
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| President | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Preceded by | Namadi Sambo |
| Succeeded by | Kashim Shettima |
| Acting President of Nigeria | |
| In office 7 May 2017 – 19 August 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Succeeded by | Muhammadu Buhari |
| In office 19 January 2017 – 13 March 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Succeeded by | Muhammadu Buhari |
| In office 6 June 2016 – 19 June 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Succeeded by | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Attorney General of Lagos State | |
| In office 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 |
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| Governor | Bola Tinubu |
| Preceded by | Muyibat Folami |
| Succeeded by | Olasupo Shasore |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo
8 March 1957 Lagos, British Nigeria (now Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria) |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
| Spouse |
Oludolapo Soyode
(m. 1989) |
| Relations | Obafemi Awolowo (grandfather-in-Law) Hannah Awolowo (grandmother-in-Law) Kemi Badenoch (first cousin once-removed) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Education |
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| Occupation |
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| Awards | List of honors and awards |
Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo (born 8 March 1957) is a Nigerian lawyer, professor, and politician. He served as the 14th Vice President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party. Before becoming Vice President, he was the top legal advisor for Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He also holds the special title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, which is a high honor for lawyers.
Born in Lagos in 1957, Osinbajo studied at the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics. After his studies, he taught law at the University of Lagos and also worked as a private lawyer. In 1999, he was appointed as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice by then-Governor Bola Tinubu. He served in this role for eight years. After leaving government in 2007, he returned to his law practice and teaching. He is also a Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Before the 2015 presidential election, Osinbajo was chosen to run alongside Muhammadu Buhari for the APC party. They won the election, defeating the previous President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. Four years later, in 2019, they were re-elected. During his time as Vice President, Osinbajo sometimes took on the role of acting president when President Buhari was away.
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Education and Early Life
Yemi Osinbajo attended Corona Primary School in Lagos. He then went to Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos, from 1969 to 1975. During his time there, he won several awards for his excellent performance in academics and public speaking.
He studied law at the University of Lagos from 1975 to 1978, earning a high-ranking degree. In 1979, he completed his professional training at the Nigerian Law School. This allowed him to become a lawyer and practice in Nigeria. In 1980, he earned a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics.
Career as a Lawyer and Professor
From 1979 to 1980, Osinbajo completed his mandatory youth service as a legal officer in Bendel State. In 1981, at the age of 24, he started working as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos. He became a Senior Lecturer of Law there from 1983 to 1986.
From 1988 to 1992, he served as a Senior Special Adviser to Nigeria's Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola. In 1997, Osinbajo became a professor of the law of evidence. He was also the head of the Public Law Department at the University of Lagos from 1997 to 1999.
From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo was the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the Lagos State Cabinet under Governor Bola Tinubu. After this, in 2007, he became a Senior Partner at Simmons Cooper Partners, a law firm in Nigeria.
Political Journey with APC
When the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party was formed in 2013, Yemi Osinbajo helped create its plans for Nigeria. This led to a document called "Roadmap to a New Nigeria," which outlined the party's goals if they won power. Some of these ideas included a free school meal program and financial help for the poorest Nigerians if they sent their children to school. The plan also aimed to create jobs for young people.
On 17 December 2014, Muhammadu Buhari, the APC's presidential candidate, chose Osinbajo as his running mate for the 2015 elections. During the campaigns, Osinbajo held many town hall meetings across the country. He promised to provide a meal a day for school children, which he said would also create jobs.
In April 2022, he announced his intention to run for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election. He placed third in the APC party's primary elections in June 2022.
Vice Presidency (2015–2023)
On 31 March 2015, Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential elections, making Osinbajo the Vice President-elect. They were both sworn into office on 29 May 2015.
First Term (2015–2019)
As Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo was in charge of the economic planning team. He would report and make suggestions to the President, who made the final decisions. Because of his strong legal background, many hoped he would help improve Nigeria's justice system.
Acting President President Muhammadu Buhari sometimes went on medical leave. During these times, Vice President Osinbajo took over as the acting president. He had this role several times, including from May to August 2017.
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On 7 August 2018, Osinbajo dismissed the head of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura. This happened after armed officers of the department illegally entered the National Assembly.
Second Term (2019–2023)
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On 2 February 2019, Osinbajo's helicopter had a crash in Kabba, Kogi State. Luckily, he survived and was able to give a planned campaign speech afterward. He expressed his gratitude for being safe.
On 29 May 2019, Osinbajo took his oath of office to begin his second term as Vice President in Abuja. In October 2019, the government closed Nigeria's land borders. Osinbajo explained that this was to get other countries to take border policing more seriously. He said that products were being smuggled into Nigeria, which was harming the Nigerian economy and farmers.
On 31 March 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari asked Vice President Osinbajo to lead an economic committee. This committee's goal was to help Nigeria's economy during the coronavirus pandemic and prepare it for the future.
After Vice Presidency
On 25 May 2023, before his term as Vice President ended, Osinbajo was chosen to lead the Commonwealth observation group for the Sierra Leone 2023 presidential elections. He led a team of experts to observe the elections.
On 11 July 2023, Osinbajo was appointed as a Global Advisor for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). This organization works to develop clean energy in developing countries. The head of GEAPP praised Osinbajo's experience in policy and development.
Osinbajo also started his own non-profit organization called Future Perspectives. It aims to help young people develop skills in innovation and project management. This initiative helps them become "changemakers" who can create their own projects to improve education. The UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) supported this initiative.
Family Life
Yemi Osinbajo was born on 8 March 1957, in Lagos. He is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo. Dolapo is a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo, a very important Nigerian leader. Yemi and Dolapo Osinbajo have three children: two daughters, Oluwadamilola and Olukonyinsola (also known as Kiki Osinbajo), and one son, Mofiyinfoluwa Osinbajo. They also have a son-in-law, Oluseun Bakare, who is married to Oluwadamilola, and a grandson born in September 2020.
Osinbajo's first cousin once removed is Kemi Badenoch, a British politician.
Awards and Memberships
Awards
Yemi Osinbajo has received several awards throughout his life:
- State Merit Award (1971)
- The School Prize for English Oratory (1972)
- Adeoba Prize for English Oratory (1972–1975)
- Elias Prize for Best Performance in History (WASC, 1973)
- School Prize for Literature (HSC, 1975)
- African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker's Prize (1974)
- On 28 May 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan gave Osinbajo the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, a very high national honor.
- In November 2019, the Emir of Daura, Faruk Umar, called Osinbajo "the most trustworthy Vice President of Nigeria." The Emir gave him the title of Danmadami of Daura, which is the highest traditional title in that area.
- First National Nutrition Vanguard of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (2022).
Memberships
He is a member of several professional groups:
- Nigerian Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- Nigerian Body of Benchers
- Council of Legal Education in Nigeria
- Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Fashion Style
Osinbajo is known for his unique way of wearing a black traditional hat. This hat style has become so famous that fashion designers sometimes call it the "Osinbajo cap."
Pastoral Career
Osinbajo is a Senior Pastor at the Lagos Province 48 (Olive Tree provincial headquarters) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The 8th March Initiative
This initiative was started by a group called 'Friends of Prof' to celebrate Osinbajo's birthday. Its goal is to encourage and support new businesses in Nigeria. In 2020 and 2021, the initiative provided grants to small businesses. It also plans to recognize health workers who were important during the fight against COVID-19.
See also
In Spanish: Yemi Osinbajo para niños
- List of Senior Advocates of Nigeria
- Vice President of Nigeria
- List of Nigerians
