Nigeria has quite a large number of politicians, however, many of them are well-educated and have a career outside politics. Aside from having a great business, some of our Naija politicians are well-schooled, bagging several degrees both within and outside Nigeria. One such prominent politician who is an encomium of greatness is Akinwunmi Ambode.
Akinwunmi Ambode was the 14th Governor of Lagos State, and he is indeed a man of great character. His career has been defined by his public service and selflessness. Ambode has dedicated his life to working for the betterment of his community and his time as the governor of Lagos State proves this.
In this article from Naijassador, we will be discussing the life of an astute accountant and Politician, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Early life
Akinwunmi Ambode was born in the Epe area of, Lagos State on June 14, 1963, in Epe General Hospital. His father’s name was Festus Akinwale Ambode and his mother’s name was Christianah Oluleye Ambode. He was raised alongside nine other siblings making a total of ten children.
Education
Akinwunmi Ambode is not just a politician but an educator and astute accountant. He began his primary education from 1969 to 1974 by attending St. Jude’s Primary School in Ebute Metta, Lagos State. He also obtained his National Common Entrance Examinations at this school. In 1974, Ambode furthered his education at the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State, and graduated in 1981.
As revealed by Naijassador, Ambode attended the University of Lagos from 1981 to 1984 for his higher education. He obtained a degree in accounting from this same university at the age of 21. Never relenting from his educational achievements, Ambode took a step further by obtaining his master’s degree in accounting from the University of Lagos. He also took his exams and became qualified as a chartered accountant.
As a bright student hoping to achieve only the best, Akinwunmi Ambode was awarded the Fulbright Program scholarship. The scholarship was for the Hubert Humphries Fellowship Programme in Boston, Massachusetts. Ambode is a man of many educational qualifications and this is clearly shown in his background. He attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for his Advanced Management Programme. Other institutions he attended and courses he studied include:
- Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England,
- The Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland, INSEAD, Singapore.
- John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
Career
As an astute accountant, Ambode enjoyed a distinguished career serving in different areas of the government. He spent over 27 years of his life in public service. The various positions held by Ambode include Assistant Treasurer at the Badagry local government, Lagos State, Nigeria from 1988 to 1991.
Leaving his position as a treasurer, he was appointed as an auditor at the Somolu Local Government of Lagos State in 1991. Ambode also served as a one-time Council Treasurer in Shomolu and Alimosho Local Government in Lagos.
Ambode became the acting Auditor General for Local Governments in Lagos State, Nigeria in 2001. In January 2005, Ambode was also appointed as the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Finance further creating a path of success for the great accountant.
Before his retirement in 2012, Ambode served as the accountant general for Lagos State from 2006- 2012. He was in charge of all the finances and financial records of the state. During his tenure, it was recorded that the state coffers saw a significant change and growth.
After spending about 27 years in the civil service, Akinwunmi Ambode retired in August 2012. Upon his retirement, he didn’t stay out of touch but he established his own private business known as Brandsmiths Consulting Limited. It is a consulting firm created to manage and provide Public Finance and Management services to the different aspects of the government and its parastatals.
Ambode founded a non-profit organization in 2013 known as La Roche Leadership Foundation. Its goal is to ensure that the Nigerian and Lagos State flags are installed in all government-owned schools in the state.
The Rise to Political Prominence
In 2014, Akinwunmi Ambode dived into politics under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He further declared his intention to run for Governor of Lagos State and this was widely accepted by Lagosians. During his campaign, he focused on creating great management for public finance and developing Lagos into a prosperous state.
Despite the fierce competition in the governorship race, Ambode successfully emerged victorious as the executive Governor of Lagos State in 2015. Subsequently, he became the 14th Governor of the state. Ambode defeated his close rival Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party to secure his seat as governor of Lagos State. He succeeded Babatunde Fashola and took office on May 29, 2015.
Keeping true to his campaign promises, Ambode wasted no time in implementing his plans for the state. His key areas of focus include infrastructure development, transportation, education, and healthcare. He again vouched to make Lagos a more sustainable and livable city.
Ambode served as governor of Lagos for just a single term of four years. Due to internal disputes, he lost his party’s ticket during the primary elections in October 2018 to a fellow contestant, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He was thereby deprived of serving as governor for a second term. This resulted in a discord within the party and the state, but Ambode being a bigger person decided to concede defeat and showed unwavering support to the campaign of Babajide Sanwo-Olu who succeeded him.
For his four-year term as executive Governor of Lagos State, Amb Ode’s achievements as discovered by Naijassador include the following:
Significant investments in infrastructure
Ambode launched several major infrastructure projects in Lagos State, including the popular construction of new roads, bridges, and flyovers. All of these constructions significantly improve the transportation and mobility rate within the city of Lagos.
Improvements in public transportation
It was the initiative by Ambode that saw the introduction of the BRT scheme and the Lagos Ferry Services in Lagos state. This invariably expanded the public transportation sector by creating more transport options and making it easier for residents to get around.
Focus on education and healthcare
He invested heavily in education, building new schools, and improving the quality of teaching. He also made significant investments in the healthcare sector, upgrading hospitals and clinics and making healthcare more accessible to the general population.
Efforts to improve the environment
Ambode implemented various environmental initiatives, including tree planting campaigns and waste management programs, to make Lagos a cleaner and more sustainable city.
Promoting social welfare
He established several programs aimed at supporting vulnerable populations, including the elderly, the disabled, and the less privileged.
Challenges and Controversies
While Ambode’s achievements are undeniable one of th best that Lagos has enjoyed, his tenure was not without challenges. He faced criticism for perceived neglect of certain areas of the state and his handling of certain public policy issues. Additionally, his relationship with his political party became strained, leading to his defeat in the 2019 gubernatorial primaries.
Following his departure from office, Ambode has remained active in public life. He continues to participate in various forums and discussions on public policy and governance. He has also been involved in philanthropic activities, supporting various causes close to his heart. Despite the challenges he faced, Akinwunmi Ambode’s legacy as Governor of Lagos State remains positive. He is remembered for his commitment to public service, his focus on improving the lives of Lagosians, and his vision for a more prosperous and sustainable future for the state.
Political Rejection
In 2014 when Ambode declared his intentions to run as governor of Lagos State, everyone knew he was going to get the position as he had the backing of the Lagos kingmaker, Tinubu. True to this prediction, Ambode contested in the gubernatorial elections and won subsequently he was unveiled as the next governor of Lagos State. Bola Tinubu who was then the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader supported Ambode until he got to the throne.
However, when the first term of four years was coming to an end, some signs began to show that Ambode had stepped on some toes in the political realm. Many suspected that Ambode had fallen out of favor with his benefactor, Bola Tinubu.
The whole drama began on July 4, 2017, when he dumped the Lagos private sector partnership (PSP) used for waste management for another utility company known as Visionscape. This eventually put the Lagos private sector partnership (PSP) operators who have been in charge of waste disposal in the state out of business.
The major problem and the beginning of Ambode’s downfall was that the PSP was managed by some of the big names in the political realm. These individuals were quite influential and got upset with the new developments. It was also speculated that Ambode had angered some top members of his political party, APC, and as such they were no longer in his favor.
A court ruling in October 2018 overturned Ambode’s decision to stop the PSP operators and subsequently, they were asked to resume their duties.
For his second term bid, it was clear that Ambode was no longer the preferred candidate and had been dumped by the leaders of his political party. Another candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu was already chosen to succeed Ambode. A decision many Lagosians decried as inappropriate for any sitting governor not to emerge as his party’s preferred candidate for a second term. On September 11, 201,8 after a meeting, all 57 Council chairmen in Lagos abandoned Ambode for the new candidate Sanwo-Olu as appointed by Tinubu. Other political party stakeholders like Osinbajo, and Oshiomhole tried to make a case for Ambode, but it was clear that he was no longer needed.
Ambode also tried to salvage his ticket by having a press conference just a day before the party primaries were held. In his statement, he accused Sanwo-Olu of using fake dollars in a nightclub in the USA, he said Sanwo-Olu had been to rehab before and the records were available at the Gbagada General Hospital. He also made a lot of claims to sabotage the aspirations of Sanwo-Olu. He called on Tinubu and the other APC leaders to choose wisely and thither situation.
Ambode almost suffered an impeachment during his tenure as governor and just a few months to the elections. He was accused of fraudulent activities in the government among other things. Tinubu also released a statement accusing Ambode of insubordination.
At the end of it all, Ambode conceded defeat when he lost the primary elections of his party. Instead, he turned around to support his party’s decision to choose a new candidate.
Personal life
Akinwunmi Ambode is a married man and he walked down the aisle with his beloved wife, Bolanle Patience Odukomaiya in 1991. The couple share twin children, a boy and a girl.
Akinwunmi Ambode has an active social media presence and pages on different platforms. He has a LinkedIn page, an X page, and an Instagram account. He has lots of followers on his accounts where he shares real-life events about himself.
Ambode has continued his endeavors journey even after serving in public life. His experience, expertise, and passion for public and civil service make him a valuable asset to the state of Lagos and the nation as a whole including the African continent.
Akinwunmi Ambode is one of those whose life and career serve as an inspiration to other people around them. He has shown through his political career and profession as an accountant that it is possible to rise from humble beginnings and make a significant impact on the world. Through dedication, hard work, and genuine commitment to public service, Ambode has clearly shown he is a man of many talents. His life story is a testament to the power of an individual and the potential to create a positive change within society.
Things you should know about Akinwunmi Ambode, a Nigerian Politician.
Please tell us what else you think readers should know in the comment section.
Written by Sarah Aboje
