On May 29, Ibikunle
Oyelaja Amosun will be sworn in as the new governor of Ogun State, a
position he sought to occupy in 2007, having contested the governorship
election on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) that
year. Although he is believed by many to have won that election, he
accepted the judicial verdict which gave victory at the polls to the
ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party. He came back this year to
contest for the same position under the Action Congress of Nigeria but
this time, he became successful at the poll and was declared the
governor-elect.
Mr Amosun was born
January 25, 1958 to late Abdu-Lasisi Oyedeni Sanusi Amosun and Rafatu
Alake Mojisola Amosun (nee Akinbola) both from Abeokuta.
He attended the
following educational institutions: African Church Primary School,
Abeokuta (1965-1970); African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta
(1971-1977); Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta now Moshood Abiola
Polytechnic (1979-1983); and the University of Westminster, London
where he got an M.A in International Finance in 2000.
Professional life
Mr Amosun qualified
as Associate Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in
1996, Associate Member of the Institute of Taxation in 1998, and Fellow
Institute of Taxation in 2003.
He started his
accounting career with Lanre Aremu Co (Chartered Accountants) as
Audit Trainee in 1984, where he rose to become a manager in 1987. He
was also with XtraEdge Consulting where he was a Senior Consultant. He
is currently the principal partner of Ibikunle Amosun Co
(Chartered Accountants) established in 1990, an accounting firm with
head office in Lagos.
Life as a politician
Mr Amosun joined
politics in 2003. He contested and won a seat in the Senate of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. During his sojourn at the Senate, he
served as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce. He also served as
member of the Senate Committees on Appropriation, Foreign Affairs,
Privitisation, as well as Security and Intelligence.
He sponsored the
Local Content of Solid Minerals Development Bill 2005, the Fire Service
Commission (Establishment) Bill 2005, and Income Tax Relief Bill for
Sports Development 2005. In 2004, he was in the vanguard of the crusade
against the excessive hike in GSM tariffs.
Mr Amosun started
the Ibikunle Amosun Scholarship Foundation, the foundation has awarded
scholarships to over 1,000 students of Ogun State origin, in various
institutions of higher learning since its inception.
Mr Amosun is a
winner of several awards, some which include: Rotary International
District 9110 Nigeria (Gold Service Award), Olabisi Onabanjo University
(Exemplary Leadership Award), Senate Group Island Club, Lagos
(Achiever’s Award), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,
Abeokuta District (40th Anniversary Award) and the National Association
of Ogun State Students (Award of Excellence).
In 1991, Mr Amosun married Olufunso Amosun (nee Odesanya). The
union is blessed with five children: four daughters and a son. When
asked about his extracurricular activities, he said: “When I want to
unwind, I spend quality time with my family. I enjoy good music, and I
also attend social functions.”
