10 Facts About 44-yr-old New Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda

Mrs Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was on Monday unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly following the impeachment of Hon. Mudashiru Obasa after the latter’s over nine years in the saddle of the leadership of the House.

Hereunder are 10 key facts about Hon. Mojisola Meranda’s life, career, and political journey:

1. Born on August 16, 1980, Mojisola Meranda hails from the prominent Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru royal families in LagosStatw. Her late father, Chief T.A. Lawal Akapo, was a legislator who later became the Ojora of Lagos.

2. She earned a degree in Public Administration from Lagos State University in 2013 and a Master’s in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from the University of Lagos in 2020. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Public Sector Management at the University of York, United Kingdom

3. Her political career started with the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), which transitioned into the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and later the All Progressives Congress (APC).

4. In 2003, at the age of 23, she began working as a personal assistant to Dr. Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, a senior special assistant on technology and special projects to then Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State.

5. She became a procurement manager at Cirrus Nigeria Limited. She also served as a senior special assistant and later a supervisory councillor for health at Apapa Local Government Area Council.

6. First elected in 2015 to represent Apapa Constituency 1, Meranda has been re-elected twice. She has consistently focused on amending outdated laws and implementing impactful constituency projects such as medical outreaches, educational initiatives, and water supply programs.

7. Meranda is a vocal advocate for women’s rights and greater representation in politics. She challenges stereotypes and emphasises that women are equally capable of holding leadership positions.

8. She was elected Chief Whip of the Ninth Lagos State House of Assembly

9. She was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House in 2023.

10. On Monday, January 13, 2025, she became the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.