Akinwunmi Ambode ((); born 14 June 1963) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Lagos State from 2015 to 2019.[1] He was a civil servant for 27 years and a financial consultant before running for public office.[2]
Akinwunmi Ambode | |
|---|---|
 An Oil Painting of Akinwunmi Ambode | |
| 14th Governor of Lagos State | |
| In office 29 May 2015 – 29 May 2019 | |
| Deputy | Oluranti Adebule |
| Preceded by | Babatunde Fashola |
| Succeeded by | Babajide Sanwo-Olu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Akinwunmi Dapo Ambode 14 June 1963 Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation |
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Ambode ran for office of the Governor of Lagos State in April 2015 as a member of the All Progressives Congress, the state's ruling party.[3] He won the election, defeating second-place Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party by just 150,000 votes.[3] He began his tenure on 29 May 2015, succeeding Babatunde Fashola. In October 2018, Ambode lost the APC gubernatorial primary election to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, denying him the opportunity to run for a second term.[4] He eventually supported Sanwo-Olu's campaign that brought about a smooth transition in the state.
Early life
editAkinwunmi Ambode was born on 14 June 1963 in Epe General Hospital,[5] into the family of Festus Akinwale Ambode and Christianah Oluleye Ambode. Akinwunmi Ambode is one of ten children of his father Festus Ambode.[6]
Education
editAkinwunmi Ambode attended St. Jude's Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos State, from 1969 to 1974, where he sat for the National Common Entrance Examinations.[7]
From 1974 to 1981, Ambode, attended Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State. From 1981 to 1984, he attended University of Lagos where he studied Accounting, graduating at the age of 21.[8]
He also has a master's degree in accounting from the University of Lagos, and he qualified as a chartered accountant.[8]
Ambode was awarded the Fulbright Program scholarship for the Hubert Humphries Fellowship Programme in Boston, Massachusetts. He also attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for Advanced Management Programme.[9] Other institutions he attended for courses and programmes include Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England, the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland, INSEAD, Singapore. Moreover, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.[10]
Civil service career
editFrom 1988 to 1991, Akinwunmi Ambode was the Assistant Treasurer, Badagry local government, Lagos State, Nigeria. In 1991, he was posted to Somolu Local Government, Lagos State, as an auditor. He has also held the position of Council Treasurer in Shomolu Local Government in later years.[11]
He also previously served as Council Treasurer at Alimosho Local Government, Lagos State. In 2001, he became acting Auditor General for Local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria. This position was confirmed by the State House of Assembly. In January 2005, Ambode was appointed the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Finance.[citation needed]
From 2006- 2012, Ambode was the accountant general for Lagos State, in charge of all the financial activities of the state and directly responsible for over 1400 accountants in the state service.[12] Under his watch, the State Treasury Office (STO) revolutionized the way Lagos State finances were raised, budgeted, managed and planned. In his six years as the Lagos State accountant general, the state's financial performance improved visibly with the budget performing at an average of 85% annually.[13]
Consulting career
editAfter 27 years in the civil service, Ambode voluntarily retired in August 2012. He founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited to provide Public Finance and Management Consulting services to government at all levels, its parastatals and agencies.[14]
Memberships
editAmbode is an active member of the Federal Government College Warri, Old Students Association (FEGOCOWOSA) and is credited with revitalizing the Lagos branch of the Association. Ambode was a two-time Chairman of the Lagos State Branch, and, until recently, was the National President of the Association, a position he held for three years. In those three years, he executed key projects in the school in conjunction with the alumni network to improve the educational and living standards of the students.[15]
Non-profit organisation
editIn 2013, he founded the non-profit La Roche Leadership Foundation. Its recent goal is to install Nigerian and Lagos State flags in all government owned schools in Lagos State.[16]
Personal life
editIn 1991, Ambode married Bolanle Patience Odukomaiya. They have twins, a boy and a girl.[6] Ambode is a Christian.[17]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Television, Channels (12 April 2015). "Akinwunmi Ambode Wins Lagos Governorship Election". Channels Television. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Adeeyo, Adewale (1 October 2017). "Ambode: A quiet but virtuoso performance". PM News.
- ^ a b Akinwunmi Ambode Wins Lagos Governorship Election, Channels TV, 2015-04-12. Accessed 2015-04-15.
- ^ "LAGOS GOVERNORSHIP TICKET: Ambode loses out as Tinubu is adamant". Vanguard News. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "Ambode: Humanist at 58". TheCable. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ a b "What do you Know About the Teacher's Son, Current Governor of Lagos State". Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Mr Akinwunmi Ambode – 2015 – 2019 – BabaJide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ a b "ABOUT AMBODE". Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Ambode: A Political Career on an Upward Trajectory - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Lagos 2015: Akinwunmi Ambode as bridge builder".
- ^ Adasofunjo, Bolaji (14 June 2021). "Ambode: Humanist at 58". The Cable.
- ^ "Will Akinwunmi Ambode Return? – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "ABOUT AMBODE". Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Brandsmiths Consulting Limited - Team". Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ^ "Old Students Lift FGC Warri With N92.7m Projects". ThisDayLive. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ Ojo, Olawunmi (November 23, 2013). "Ambode: Filling Gaps In Education And Leadership". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ^ "Group endorses Ambode for second term - The Nation Nigeria". 23 January 2018.