Olusola Obada (born 27 June 1951) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer.[1] She served as deputy governor of Osun State from 2003 to 2010, as Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence from 2011 to 2012 and then as Nigeria's Minister of Defence from 2012 to 2013 under the Cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan.[2]
Olusola Obada | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office July 2012 – September 2013 | |
| President | Goodluck Jonathan |
| Preceded by | Haliru Mohammed Bello |
| Succeeded by | Aliyu Mohammed Gusau |
| Deputy Governor of Osun State | |
| In office 29 May 2003 – 26 November 2010 | |
| Governor | Olagunsoye Oyinlola |
| Preceded by | Iyiola Omisore |
| Succeeded by | Titilayo Laoye-Tomori |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Olusola Idowu Agbeja 27 June 1951 Ilesa, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Osun State, Nigeria) |
| Political party | Peoples Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Babatunde Obada |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | |
Early life and education edit
Olusola Idowu Agbeja was born into the Agbejanlabofa family of Ibodi in Ijeshaland on 27 June 1951, she completed her basic education at UMC Demonstration School, Ibadan and her secondary school education at Queen's School, Ede, Osun State.[3] She is an alumnus of Watford College of Technology, Watford, United Kingdom where she studied Advertising Administration before proceeding to the University of Buckingham, Buckingham, United Kingdom to study Law and subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.[1]
Career edit
Private sector edit
Obada began her career as Advertising Officer with Nigeria Airways before leaving the company to work as Managing Partner in Olusola Agbeja and Co. in 1986.[4] In 1990, she established Iron Gate Finance and Trust Company Limited, a privately owned finance and investment company where she served as Managing Director.[5] In 1996, she was employed as the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of Materials Management Services Limited and later rose to become the company's Managing Director.[5]
Politics edit
In 2003, Obada was elected as Deputy Governor of Osun State with Olagunsoye Oyinlola as governor until on 27 November 2010 when she vacated the post.[6] In January 2011, Obada was appointed into Directorate position, covering the South-West of Nigeria for the Goodluck and Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation. In July 2011, following Jonathan's victory in the Presidential elections, Obada was appointed Minister of State for Defence by Goodluck Jonathan, and then served in Jonathan's cabinet as de facto Defence Minister until a major reshuffle in September 2013.[7] On 6 March 2014, she was appointed by Goodluck Jonathan as one of the top five Nigerian elder-statesmen in the 2014 National Conference, Nigeria.[8] On 29 September 2014, Goodluck Jonathan honoured her with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) national award.[9] On 2 January 2015, she was appointed by Goodluck Jonathan into a Directorate position for his 2015 presidential re-election campaign.[10] On 6 May 2015, she was appointed Chairman of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma Governing Council, one of the last appointments made by out-going President Goodluck Jonathan.[11]
Personal life edit
Obada is married to Babatunde Obada with whom they have four children. She is a traditional chieftain who holds about five traditional titles including those of the Erelu of Ijeshaland, Eyaloje of Argidi of Atoko, and the Yeye Asiwaju of Ibodi.[5][12]
References edit
- ^ a b Ekunkunbor, Jemi (27 June 2009). "Helping people in need has enrinched me- Erulu Dr. Olusola". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ "What becomes of Jonathan's women?". The Nation Newspaper. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Osun State (Nigeria). Ministry of Information and Women Affairs (2004). Osun State Executive Council. Ministry of Information and Women Affairs, Osun State.
- ^ "Jonathan's Several Women". The Nigeria Today. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ a b c "The Ministers and their Profiles". The Source Magazine. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Ronke I. Ako-Nai (8 March 2013). Gender and Power Relations in Nigeria. Lexington Books. pp. 167–. ISBN 978-0-7391-7779-2.
- ^ Tukur, Sani; Usman, Talatu (11 September 2013). "Cabinet Reshuffle: Jonathan appoints Wike interim Education Minister; Maku to oversee Defence". Premium Times Newspaper. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Full List of Delegates to the Nigeria National Conference". CNN. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Federal Government releases list of 2013/2014 national honours recipients". Vanguard. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Tukur, Sani; Usman, Talatu (2 January 2015). "Full List of Jonathan's Campaign Officials: Directorate and Committee Levels". Premium Times Newspaper. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ Tyessi, Kuni (11 September 2013). "Jonathan Appoints Obada, Gbenga Daniel, Chairmen Governing Council Of New Federal Varsities". Leadership Newspaper. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ Raw Materials Update. Raw Materials Research and Development Council. 2005.
Bibliography edit
- Erelu Olusola Obada: her brain, her glamour, her politics : an Amazon in the news. Royal Trust Communications. 2006.