Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a Nigerian lawyer, professor, and politician who served as the 14th vice president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. He is widely respected for his integrity, competence, and dedication to the nation's development. In this blog post, we will explore his biography, achievements, and contributions to Nigerian society.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Profile

Early Life and Education

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was born on March 8, 1957, at Creek Hospital, Lagos. He hails from Ogun State, where his father was a tailor, and his mother was a trader. He had his primary education at Corona School Lagos and his secondary education at Igbobi College, Yaba, where he excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. 

He won several prizes and awards, including the State Merit Award, the School Prize for English Oratory, the Adeoba Prize for English Oratory, the Elias Prize for Best Performance in History, the School Prize for Literature, and the African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker's Prize.

He studied law at the University of Lagos, graduating with a Second Class Upper Degree in 1978. He also won the Graham-Douglas Prize for Commercial Law. He completed his mandatory one-year professional training at the Nigerian Law School in 1979 and was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of Nigeria's Supreme Court. In 1980, he obtained a Masters of Law degree from the London School of Economics & Political Science, where he specialized in public law.

Career and Achievements

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a distinguished scholar, teacher, lawyer, and administrator. He is one of the nation's leading experts on the Law of Evidence, National and Regional Corporate Commercial Laws, and Public Law. He has authored several books and articles on various aspects of law and policy and has delivered lectures and presentations at local and international forums.

He started his career as a lecturer at the University of Lagos in 1981, becoming Professor of Law and Head of the Department of Public Law in 1994. He also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1997 to 1999. 

He was a visiting professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia 1999, and a visiting fellow at the University of London, UK, in 2000. He has also been a visiting scholar at Harvard University, USA, and a research fellow at Yale University, USA.

He was appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State in 1999 by the then Governor Bola Tinubu. He served in this capacity for eight years, during which he initiated and implemented far-reaching judicial reforms in Lagos State, addressing critical areas such as judges' recruitment, remuneration, training, and discipline. 

He also established the Directorate for Citizens' Rights, the Office of the Public Defender, the Citizens' Mediation Centre, and the Law Reform Commission to ensure access to justice for the poor and vulnerable. He also led the prosecution of several high-profile cases involving corruption, human rights violations, and environmental issues. 

He was instrumental in the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as part of the efforts to combat graft and promote accountability in public office.

After his tenure as Attorney-General, he returned to his private practice and lecturing in 2007. He became more involved in his pastoral work as a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He founded and coordinated the Orderly Society Trust, a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting Christian ethics and orderliness. He is also a partner and senior counsel at SimmonsCooper Partners, Nigeria's leading commercial law firm.

He was chosen as the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, in the 2015 general elections. Their ticket won the election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. He was sworn in as the Vice President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015. He was re-elected for a second term in 2019, along with President Buhari, defeating the opposition candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

As the Vice President, he has overseen several key sectors and government initiatives, such as the economy, social investment, power, agriculture, technology, and security. He has also been the acting president several times when President Buhari was away on medical leave or official trips. 

He has demonstrated his leadership and competence in handling various national issues and crises, such as the recession, the Niger Delta unrest, the herdsmen-farmers clashes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the EndSARS protests. He has also strongly advocated for the rule of law, human rights, democracy, and good governance.

Some of his notable achievements and contributions as the Vice President include:

• Chairing the Economic Management Team, which formulated and implemented policies and strategies to steer the country out of recession and restore growth and stability.

• Supervising the National Social Investment Programme provides cash transfers, school feeding, micro-credit, and skills training to millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

• Launching the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council aims to improve the ease of doing business and attract more investments to the country.

• Initiating the Power Sector Recovery Programme, which seeks to address the challenges and gaps in the power sector and ensure adequate and reliable electricity supply to consumers and businesses.

• Coordinating the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative has revived the local fertilizer industry and reduced the cost and dependence on imported fertilizers for farmers.

• Spearheading the National Livestock Transformation Plan is a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing the root causes and consequences of the conflicts between herdsmen and farmers and promoting the development of the livestock sector.

• Leading the National Economic Council, the country's highest economic policy-making body, comprising the 36 state governors and key federal ministers and agencies.

• Heading the Presidential Task Force on Technology and Creativity, which is part of the Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, established to support and promote the development of the technology and creative industries in the country.

• Championing the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme, a framework for implementing the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate resilience.

• Driving the Nigeria Innovation Programme is a platform for supporting and showcasing the innovations and talents of young Nigerians in various fields such as science, technology, arts, and entertainment.

• Facilitating the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, a regional project that will connect Nigeria's gas resources to West African countries and Europe and boost the region's energy security and economic integration.

• Mediating and resolving the Niger Delta crisis, which involved engaging with the stakeholders and communities in the region and ensuring the implementation of the amnesty programme and the development projects in the region.

• Managing the COVID-19 response involved coordinating the efforts and resources of the federal and state governments, the private sector, and international partners to contain the spread of the virus, mitigate its impact, and provide relief and support to the affected people and sectors.

• Addressing the EndSARS protests, which involved listening to the demands and grievances of the protesters, and initiating a dialogue and a process of reform and accountability in the police and security sector.

Personal Life and Family

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is married to Oludolapo Osinbajo (nee Soyode), a lawyer, author, and philanthropist. She is the granddaughter of the late sage and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the late Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo was a prominent leader and icon in Nigeria's history. They have three children: Kiki, Kanyinsola, and Fiyinfoluwa, and a grandson: Oluwafisayo.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a devout Christian and a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He is also a lover of music, literature, and sports. He plays the guitar and sings in the choir. He enjoys reading books and writing poems. He is a fan of football and supports Arsenal Football Club.

Yemi Osinbajo, Of Controversy And Activism

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is the vice president of Nigeria who has been involved in various projects and initiatives to improve the lives of Nigerians. However, he has also faced some controversy and criticism for his role in the government, especially during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.

According to Wikipedia, Prof. Osinbajo started his political career as a relatively unknown figure, who was chosen by Bola Tinubu, a powerful politician and godfather in Lagos State, to be the running mate of Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. 

He was seen as a law, faith, and serviceman with a welfarist vision for Nigeria. He was also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a professor of law at the University of Lagos, and a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Lagos State.

He won the hearts of many Nigerians, especially the youth, with his charisma, oratory skills, and grassroots engagement. He also spearheaded several programmes and policies to create jobs, feed pupils, reduce poverty, improve business efficiency, and reform the justice system. He was re-elected for a second term in 2019, along with President Buhari.

However, his popularity and reputation have been tarnished by some of the challenges and crises that have plagued the country under the APC administration, such as the recession, the insecurity, the corruption, the human rights violations, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been accused of being silent, complicit, or ineffective in addressing these issues and betraying the trust and expectations of those who voted for him.

One of the most controversial moments of his tenure was his response to the #EndSARS protests, which erupted in October 2020 following the brutalities and atrocities committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian police. 

The protesters demanded the disbandment of SARS, the prosecution of the officers involved, and the reform of the police and security sector. They also expressed their frustration and anger with the country's poor governance, bad leadership, and lack of accountability.

Prof. Osinbajo, seen as a champion of human rights and justice, was expected to empathize with the protesters and take decisive actions to meet their demands. However, his statements and actions were criticized for being too slow, vague, and diplomatic. 

He was also blamed for not doing enough to prevent the violent crackdown on the protesters by the security forces, which culminated in the Lekki toll gate massacre on October 20, 2020, where several unarmed protesters were killed or injured by the army.

Prof. Osinbajo later apologized to the protesters and promised to ensure justice and accountability for the victims. He also said he would continue to work with the government and the stakeholders to implement the reforms and address the people's grievances. However, many Nigerians were not satisfied with his apology and promises and accused him of being a hypocrite, a sellout, and a puppet of the president.

Prof. Osinbajo has also been involved in activism and advocacy, especially in technology, innovation, and climate change. He has supported and promoted the development of Nigeria's technology and creative industries. He has facilitated some regional and international projects and partnerships that aim to boost the region's energy security and economic integration. 

He has also championed the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme, a framework for implementing the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience.

Prof. Osinbajo is a man of many roles and responsibilities who has tried to impact the country positively. However, he has also faced many challenges and controversies, which have affected his image and legacy. He is a man of law, faith, service, debate, and activism.

Conclusion

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a man of law, faith, and service. He has distinguished himself in his various fields of endeavor and has contributed immensely to the development and progress of Nigeria. 

He is a role model and an inspiration to many Nigerians, especially the youth, who look up to him for his vision, values, and virtues. He is a true patriot and a statesman who has devoted his life to serving God and humanity.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below. Thank you for your time and attention.