Akinwunmi Ambode

Akinwunmi Ambode ((Listenⓘ); 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.

Akinwunmi Ambode
An Oil Painting of Akinwunmi Ambode
14th Governor of Lagos State
In office
29 May 2015 – 29 May 2019
DeputyOluranti Adebule
Preceded byBabatunde Fashola
Succeeded byBabajide Sanwo-Olu
Personal details
Born
Akinwunmi Dapo Ambode

(1963-06-14) 14 June 1963
Epe, Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Spouse
​
(m. 1991)​
Children2
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • accountant

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.[2] He won the election, defeating second-place Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party by just 150,000 votes.[2] 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 second term.[3] He eventually supported Sanwo-Olu's campaign that brought about smooth transition in the state.

Early life

Akinwunmi Ambode was born on 14 June 1963 in Epe General Hospital,[4] into the family of Festus Akinwale Ambode and Christianah Oluleye Ambode. Akinwunmi Ambode is one of ten children of his father Festus Ambode.[5]

Education

Akinwunmi Ambode attended St. Jude's Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos State, from 1969 to 1974, where he sat for the National Common Entrance Examinations.[6]

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.[7]

He also has a master's degree in accounting from the University of Lagos, and he qualified as a chartered accountant.[7]

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. 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.[8]

Civil service career

From 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.

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.

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. 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.[9]

Consulting career

After 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.[10]

Memberships

Ambode 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.[11]

Non-profit organisation

In 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.[12]

Personal life

In 1991, Ambode married Bolanle Patience Odukomaiya. They have twins, a boy and a girl.[5] Ambode is a Christian.[13]

See also

References
  1. Television, Channels (12 April 2015). "Akinwunmi Ambode Wins Lagos Governorship Election". Channels Television. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. Akinwunmi Ambode Wins Lagos Governorship Election, Channels TV, 2015-04-12. Accessed 2015-04-15.
  3. "LAGOS GOVERNORSHIP TICKET: Ambode loses out as Tinubu is adamant". Vanguard News. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. "Ambode: Humanist at 58". TheCable. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  5. "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)
  6. "Mr Akinwunmi Ambode – 2015 – 2019 – BabaJide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  7. "ABOUT AMBODE".
  8. "Lagos 2015: Akinwunmi Ambode as bridge builder".
  9. "ABOUT AMBODE".
  10. "Brandsmiths Consulting Limited - Team". Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  11. "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.
  12. 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.
  13. "Group endorses Ambode for second term - The Nation Nigeria". 23 January 2018.
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