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5 Things you might not know about Nigeria acting president, Yemi Osinbajo

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Professor Yemi Osinbajo

Professor Yemi Osinbajo

 Nigerian Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is 60 years old today. He was born on 8th of March 1957 and has risen to the most powerful position in Nigeria.

How did a lawyer, who grew up in Lagos rise to that position? Here are some facts about him you did not know:

1. Background

Yemi Osinbajo was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo on March 8, 1957 at Creek Hospital, Lagos. He first went to Corona primary School, in Lagos and between 1969–1975, he attended Igbobi College Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

2. Marriage

He also married into one of Nigeria’s most powerful families, the Awolowo family. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo. They have three children together.

3. Further education

He also had a very good education. From 1975–1978, he studied for his undergraduate degree in Law at the University of Lagos, where he was awarded a LLB Law degree.

From 1979–1980 he attended Nigerian Law School. In 1981, he was awarded a Master of Laws after attending the London School of Economics.

4. Career

His career has been nothing short of outstanding too. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor of Law and a Senior Partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice.

5. Pastoral career

His career was also buoyed by the time he spent as the Pastor in charge of the Lagos Province 48, Olive Tree provincial headquarter parish, Ikoyi before his inauguration into office as the Vice President of Nigeria.

How did he get to where he is? A report says he emerged as Nigeria’s vice president without lobbying for it.

While, minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his solid minerals counterpart, Kayode Fayemi were said to have lobbied for the position of vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 presidential elections.

President Buhari ignored their advances and instead settled for Osinbajo, whose name was put forward by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Osinbajo once described his emergence as vice-president as divine, because he did not have to scheme to get the job.

According to the report, Amaechi had thrown in a challenge for the office. Amaechi’s argument was that a vice-presidential candidate from the south-south would temper the brewing restiveness in the region.

Osinbajo has not publicly acknowledged Tinubu’s role in his emergence as the vice president, but he has given hint subtly about Tinubu’s help.