Yemi Osinbajo

Yemi Osinbajo: Biography, Career, and Achievements **Early Life and Education** Professor Oluyemi "Yemi" Oluleke Osinbajo was born on March 8, 1957, in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a prominent Nigerian academic, lawyer, and politician. Osinbajo attended Corona Primary School in Lagos and Igbobi College in Yaba, where he was noted for his academic excellence. He proceeded to the University of Lagos, where he studied Law, graduating in 1978 with an LL.B. Second Class Upper Division. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1979. He later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1980. **Academic and Legal Career** Osinbajo’s career began as a Legal Officer with the Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Bendel State. He started his academic journey in 1981 as a Lecturer at the University of Lagos. By 1983, he became a Senior Lecturer, and at the age of 33, he was appointed a Professor of Law in 1990. His academic focus included the Law of Evidence and Public Law. From 1997 to 1999, he served as Head of the Department of Public Law at the University of Lagos. He is also a Senior Partner at the reputable law firm, SimmonsCooper Partners. **Career Progression and Political Involvement** Professor Osinbajo served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, during the administration of Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During this period, he implemented significant reforms in the Lagos State judiciary and legal system, which included establishing the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Following his tenure, he returned to academia and legal practice. In December 2014, he was selected as the running mate to General Muhammadu Buhari for the 2015 presidential election. **Vice Presidency and Major Achievements** Yemi Osinbajo was inaugurated as the 14th Vice President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015. He was re-elected for a second term in 2019. As Vice President, Osinbajo was instrumental in overseeing the National Economic Council and was deeply involved in the administration’s economic and social investment programs. Key achievements include his leadership role in: * **The National Social Investment Programme (NSIP):** Initiating and driving massive social intervention programs, including the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), N-Power (a job creation program for youth), and the Home Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP), which became one of the largest in Africa. * **Ease of Doing Business Reforms:** Chairing the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which implemented numerous reforms that significantly improved Nigeria’s ranking on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index. * **Economic Stabilization:** Playing a critical role in steering the country through economic challenges, particularly during the recession of 2016. He often served as Acting President when President Buhari was abroad, during which he took several notable policy decisions.**Notable Works and Current Status** Osinbajo is a prolific writer and author of several law books, articles, and papers, including *The Judicial Perspective on Electoral Disputes* and *The Unification of Commercial Laws in Africa*. He is also an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Following the conclusion of his second term as Vice President on May 29, 2023, Professor Yemi Osinbajo remains a respected statesman, legal expert, and influential figure in Nigerian public life. He is currently involved in international engagements, focusing on sustainable development, economic empowerment, and justice reform.