Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila CFR Biography
Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila CFR (born 25 June 1962) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who has served as the Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria since 2023. He previously held the position of the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023.
Early Life and Education
Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila was born on 25 June 1962 to Lateef Gbajabiamila and Olufunke Gbajabiamila in Lagos, Nigeria. He received his elementary education at Mainland Preparatory School before attending Igbobi College in 1973 for his secondary education. Gbajabiamila then moved to King William’s College on the Isle of Man, United Kingdom, to complete his A-Levels. He later enrolled at the University of Lagos, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with honours in 1983. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984.
Following his education in Nigeria, he worked at Bentley Edu & Co., a law firm in Lagos, before founding his own firm, Femi Gbaja & Co. He later pursued further studies in the United States, earning a Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2001. He passed the Georgia Bar exam and established a law practice in Atlanta. While in the U.S., Gbajabiamila was actively involved in the election campaign of Bill Campbell, who went on to become the Mayor of Atlanta.
Political Career
Gbajabiamila was first elected to the Nigerian House of Representatives in 2003, representing the Surulere I constituency in Lagos State. He was re-elected and served for six consecutive terms.
He was critical of the practice of lawmakers switching political parties, highlighting the negative impact it had on voters who often lacked sufficient information to make informed decisions. He expressed concerns that such party-switching could undermine the democratic process.
During his tenure, Gbajabiamila served as the Minority Leader in the 7th National Assembly and was involved in various significant legislative activities. He chaired the House’s ad hoc committee that investigated a reported 140.9 billion naira debt owed by Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited and Forte Oil Plc, both owned by businessman Femi Otedola. The investigation followed concerns raised about the secrecy surrounding payments related to the Nigerian government’s fuel subsidy scheme.
Gbajabiamila was elected as the Speaker of the 9th National Assembly House of Representatives in 2019 with 283 votes, defeating his opponent, Mohammed Umar Bago, who received 78 votes. As Speaker, he was recognized for his focus on issues affecting both his constituents and the broader Nigerian population, earning a reputation as a skilled and dedicated legislator.
In June 2023, after 20 years of service, Gbajabiamila resigned from the House of Representatives to assume his new role as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
Awards
In recognition of his service, Gbajabiamila was awarded the Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022.