Profile of new Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila

OLUFEMI Hakeem Gbajabiamila, the new Speaker, was born on June 25, 1962 into the family of Lateef and Olufunke Gbajabiamila.

He had his elementary education in Lagos at the Mainland Preparatory School and proceeded to Igbobi College, Yaba in 1973 for his secondary education where he graduated in 1978.

Gbajabiamila enrolled at the King Williams College, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, for his ‘A Levels’ and graduated in 1980.

He returned to Nigeria and was accepted into the University of Lagos for LLB (Bachelor of Law) degree programme. He graduated with honours in 1983, proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984.

Years later, Gbajabiamila established his own law firm, Femi Gbaja and Co. on Broad Street, Lagos, before travelling to the United States for further education.

He attended John Marshall Law School in Atlanta Georgia, where he graduated top of his class, earning himself a Juris Doctorate.

Gbajabiamila started his journey in politics when he joined the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) and won his first term election in the House of Representatives in 2003.

He was re-elected in 2007 and elected as Action Congress (AC) leader and minority whip of the House.

Bills and motions he supported, among others, were the Employee Rights Bill, Local content in Construction Industry Bill, Vocational Schools Bill, The Economic Stimulus Bill, Interest-Free Students Loan and Establishment of Nigeria Education Bank Bill.

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In 2011, Gbajabiamila contested and won a third term on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He was again re-elected ACN leader and leader of the opposition in the House.

In 2014, Gbajabiamila, as the Leader of opposition in the House, led his colleagues into the merger that gave birth to the APC.

He was elected for the fourth term in 2015 but lost his bid to become Speaker to Honourable Yakubu Dogara.

Gbajabiamila was, however, elected leader of the eighth House of Representatives on July 28, 2015.

After his re-election at the 2019 general election, the APC announced him as the party’s candidate to head the ninth House of Representatives.

The new head of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly is married and the union is blessed with children.