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PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GLOBAL CHAIRMAN.
WE CELEBRATE OUR DEAR VICE PRESIDENT, PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO, GCON @ 64
The Global Chairman of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard, Ambassador (Dr) Dare Owotomobi FCPA on behalf of all its members worldwide, heartily join the family, friends, associates and President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and the entire nation in celebrating our amiable Vice-president, Professor Oluyemi Oluleke ” Yemi” Osinbajo GCON, Vice – President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the auspicious occasion of his 64 birthday anniversary today.
Born on this day 8th March, 1957 to the humble family of Pa Opeoluwa Osinbajo, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has remained not only a proud son of his family but a rare gem and gift to Nigeria and the world which have benefitted in one way or the other from his invaluable services.
His talents right from his childhood to adulthood have never been hidden. Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been a notable award winner all his years as a pupil and student at the various institutions he traversed and as a quintessential lawyer and academia of global repute.
Vice president Yemi Osinbajo began his very fruitful and rewarding career in Law at the prestigious University of Lagos from 1975-1978 where he obtained his LLB with Second Class Upper Division which was not easy to come by at that time. He became easily noticeable by the university which could hardly wait for him to complete the compulsory one year National Youth Service before his employment as a law lecturer at the very tender age of 23 years in 1981 by the University of Lagos.
With a great thirst and quest for more knowledge, the young Yemi Osinbajo based on his brilliance was admitted into one of the world’s best and oldest universities, the London School of Economics (LSE) where he passed out with flying colours with an LLM degree in Law within a record one year. He returned and served as a senior lecturer in Public Law at his alma mater, the University of Lagos from 1983-1986.
Based on his high pedigree, prowess and intellectual accomplishments within a short period of time, he was appointed as a Special Adviser on Legal and Litigation to the Honourable Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ajibola who was later became a Justice of the World Court at the Hague. Professor Osinbajo served as a Special Adviser with finesse and distinction from 1988-1992.
Not yet done with the University of Lagos which he held very dear his heart, the vibrant intellectual returned to the University as Professor and Head of Department of Public Law from 1997-1999.
The success story of our principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as two term governor of Lagos state cannot be complete without putting in its proper context and perspective the roles and contributions of the erudite scholar and legal luminary Professor Yemi Osinbajo who served as a member of the cabinet in the capacity of Honourable Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of the state. Under his watch, the state legal system underwent long lasting and sustainable reforms which have stood the test of time and which have served as model for other states in the federation.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo whose entire life has been that of selfless devotion to public service and humanity, served only for one year as a private citizen and a Senior Partner in the very reputable Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors) before he returned once again to the university of Lagos as a Professor in the Law Faculty. He also doubled as a visiting Professor at the young Lagos State University. Professor Yemi Osinbajo carved a niche for himself in the academia as he remained a reference point to many a law lecturers across the nation. His name as an achiever in the academia from Head of Department to Dean of the Faculty of Law at various times and Professor Emeritus made him a household name in the legal ecosystem and architecture. He has written books and contributed more than 10 chapters in legal books and over 30 articles in local and international legal journals.. Being the legal luminary that he is, he was appointed a Staff Member of the United Nations Operations in Somalia, Justice Division, UNOSOM 11 and Member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of United Nations Peacekeeping Personnel around the globe in 2006.
This great son of Nigeria whom we are today celebrating his 64 years sojourn on earth has, indeed, put paid to the saying that it is not how long one lives but how well one serves that matters. He has served his state of birth Lagos, nation and beyond with great passion, pride and distinction.
His contributions to the growth of our democracy and progressive politics are in the public domain for all to see and appreciate. At the formation of the All Progressives Congress by the legacy parties, Professor Yemi Osinbajo along with other notable progressives were carefully selected to produce the document for the electioneering campaign of the 2015 general election which indeed was adopted as the manifesto of the APC known as the ” Roadmap to a New Nigeria”. The document contained programs designed for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians especially the massive youthful population, women and Empowerment programs for very poor and vulnerable in society such as cash transfer, trader moni and school child feeding programs.
As a very loyal Vice President and Servant leader, Professor Yemi Osinbajo sees his position as the number two citizen of the nation as an opportunity to serve Nigeria to the best of his ability using his God-given talents and intellect. He has remained very focused and has refused to be distracted in the performance of his constitutional responsibilities. This has earned him the trust of his principal and number one citizen of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari.
In order to salvage our country in this difficult moment, President Muhammadu Buhari in addition to his constitutional responsibilities deemed it fit to appoint Vice President Osinbajo as the Chairman of the Economic Sustainability Committee which is charged with developing a roadmap and measures to cushion the the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and to eventually reposition the nation’s economy. The Vice President has discharged with great determination and success this responsibility as the nation has come out of recession which many countries fell into based on the devastating impact of COVID-19 and has maintained its position as not only the biggest economy on the African continent but also fastest growing economy in the continent.
In fact, nothing succinctly captures the loyalty of Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo than how the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar, President Buhari’s Emir describes the Vice president during a visit visit to the emirate on 3 November, 2019 as ” the most trustworthy Vice President of Nigeria” and awarded him the highest traditional title in the emirate, the Danmadamin Daura in his appreciation of his roles.
It is against this background that we join his dear mother, Mama Olubisi Osinbajo, his heartthrob and lovely wife and grand daughter of the great sage and legendary Obafemi Awolowo, Princess Dolapo Osinbajo, his lovely daughters, Damilola and Kanyinsola and son, Fiyinfoluwa who have all excelled and remain very supportive to their son, husband, father and role model as he marks these 64 years of God’s divine favour and faithfulness upon his life.
As a God – fearing man and a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God under the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adebayo, which is one of the most popular churches in the country, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has shepherded many to divine living and Christ salvation, a feat which he has taken to nation building and peaceful and social coexistence of Nigerians.
As a true child of God who has seen the good, the bad and the ugly side of life, Professor Osinbajo has remained grateful to his creator and sustainer at all times especially when he and his campaign team were involved in a helicopter crash in Kogi state on 2 February, 2019 when he said that he was ” extremely grateful to the Lord for preserving their lives from the incident ” where all the occupants of the helicopter came out unhurt!
As we celebrate this great iconic and unassuming leader and Vice President of Africa’s largest nation and democracy, a great inspirational leader bridge builder and agent of peace and social justice and an avid believer in the oneness of our country, we pray along with him and wish him many more years of continuous fruitful service to our dear nation and good health, wisdom and God’s protection.
Many happy returns our dear Vice President from all of us at BATSV.
Hon Sylvanus M. Namang
Special Adviser Information and Communications.
Office of the Global Chairman
Abuja
8th March 2021