Yemi Osinbajo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
His Excellency
Prof 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) |
| 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 Attorney General of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He also holds the special title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, which is given to experienced lawyers.
Osinbajo was born in Lagos in 1957. He 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 became the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for Lagos State. He worked in this role for eight years under Governor Bola Tinubu. After 2007, Osinbajo returned to his private law practice and teaching. He also continued his work as 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 over as acting president when President Buhari was away for medical reasons.
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Education and Early Life
Yemi Osinbajo went to Corona Primary School in Lagos. He then attended Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos, from 1969 to 1975. During his time there, he won several awards for his academic performance and public speaking skills.
He studied Law at the University of Lagos from 1975 to 1978. He graduated with honors and won the Graham-Douglas Prize for Commercial Law. In 1979, he finished his training at the Nigerian Law School. This allowed him to practice as a lawyer in Nigeria. In 1980, he earned a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics.
Career Before Politics
From 1979 to 1980, Osinbajo worked as a legal officer in Bendel State. In 1981, at the age of 24, he started teaching law at the University of Lagos. He became a Senior Lecturer there from 1983 to 1986.
From 1988 to 1992, he was a special advisor 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 until 1999.
From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo served as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the Lagos State Cabinet. After leaving government in 2007, he became a Senior Partner at Simmons Cooper Partners, a law firm in Nigeria.
He also held other important roles, including:
- Senior Officer in the Justice Division for the United Nations Operations in Somalia.
- Member of a UN committee that looked into the conduct of UN peacekeeping staff.
Joining the All Progressives Congress (APC)
When the All Progressives Congress (APC) party was formed in 2013, Yemi Osinbajo helped create their plans for Nigeria. This plan was called the "Roadmap to a New Nigeria." It included ideas like providing free school meals and giving money to poor families if their children went to school. It also had programs to create jobs for young people in Nigeria.
On 17 December 2014, Muhammadu Buhari, who was running for President, announced that Osinbajo would be his running mate. This meant Osinbajo would be the candidate for Vice President in the 2015 elections. During the campaign, Osinbajo held many town hall meetings across the country. One of his promises was to provide one meal a day for school children. He also said this plan would create jobs.
In April 2022, Osinbajo announced that he wanted to run for President in the 2023 presidential election. He came in third place during the APC party's primary elections in June 2022.
Vice Presidency (2015–2023)
On 31 March 2015, Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential elections. This made Osinbajo the Vice President-elect of Nigeria. They both took their oath of office on 29 May 2015.
First Term (2015–2019)
As Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo was in charge of the economic planning team. He would suggest ideas to the President, who made the final decisions. Because of his background as a lawyer and his experience as a justice commissioner, many people hoped he would help improve the country's legal system.
Acting President President Muhammadu Buhari sometimes went on medical leave. During these times, Vice President Osinbajo would become the acting president. He took on this role several times, including from May to August 2017.
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On 7 August 2018, Osinbajo removed the head of the State Security Service, Lawal Musa Daura. This happened after armed officers from the department illegally entered the National Assembly.
Second Term (2019–2023)
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On 29 May 2019, Professor Yemi Osinbajo took his oath of office for his second term. This ceremony took place at Eagle Square, Abuja in the capital city of Abuja.
In October 2019, Nigeria closed its land borders. Osinbajo explained that this was done to get other countries to pay attention to border control. He said that products were being smuggled into Nigeria, which was hurting the Nigerian economy and farmers. By closing the borders, the government aimed to protect local businesses and agriculture.
Osinbajo also spoke about social media. He said that the government should not necessarily control social media. Instead, he asked citizens and leaders to help make sure social media is not used to spread false information or cause conflict.
On 31 March 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari asked Vice President Osinbajo to lead a committee. This committee's job was to find ways to help Nigeria's economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
Osinbajo was known for visiting people who had lost loved ones and attending many official events. His speeches were often humorous and engaging. It is said that he usually spoke from memory, using only a few notes.
After Being Vice President
On 25 May 2023, before his term as Vice President ended, Osinbajo was chosen to lead a group. This group observed the Sierra Leone 2023 presidential elections for the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Secretary-General thanked Osinbajo for taking on this important role.
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 public service and his work on issues like climate change and economic development.
Osinbajo also started his own organization called Future Perspectives. This group helps young people develop skills in innovation and project management. It aims to support them in becoming "changemakers" who can create positive change in education and other areas. This initiative was supported by UNESCO.
Family Life
Yemi Osinbajo was born on 8 March 1957, in Lagos. He is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo. Dolapo is the granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo, a very important Nigerian leader. Yemi and Dolapo Osinbajo have three children: two daughters, Oluwadamilola and Olukonyinsola, and one son, Mofiyinfoluwa. They also have a son-in-law, Oluseun Bakare, and a grandson born in September 2020.
Awards and Recognitions
Yemi Osinbajo has received several awards throughout his life:
- State Merit Award in 1971.
- The School Prize for English Oratory in 1972.
- Adeoba Prize for English Oratory from 1972–1975.
- Elias Prize for Best Performance in History (WASC) in 1973.
- School Prize for Literature (HSC) in 1975.
- African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker's Prize in 1974.
- On 28 May 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan gave Osinbajo the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger award.
- In November 2019, the Emir of Daura, Faruk Umar, called Osinbajo "the most trustworthy Vice President of Nigeria." He also gave him the traditional title of Danmadami of Daura.
- He was recognized as the First National Nutrition Vanguard of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2022.
Memberships
He is a member of several professional groups, including:
- Nigerian Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- Nigerian Body of Benchers
- Council of Legal Education in Nigeria
- Senior Advocate of Nigeria
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 Professor Yemi Osinbajo's birthday. Its goal is to encourage and support new businesses in Nigeria. In 2020, the initiative gave grants to several small businesses. It also plans to recognize Health workers who helped fight COVID-19 and provide medical help across the country.
See also
In Spanish: Yemi Osinbajo para niños
- List of Senior Advocates of Nigeria
- Vice President of Nigeria
- List of Nigerians
