Akinwunmi Ambode – African Governor

The governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, spent many years as a civil servant and financial consultant before he even ran for office. In 2015, he became the Governor as a member of the All Progressives Congress, which is the state’s ruling party, and won.

It took him awhile to get accustomed to being a governor, however, now that he has a handle running the mega city of Lagos he has been making a real difference for many people. Not only has he surpassed the expectations of many but he has shown a commitment to the community and being inclusive.

From the Employment Trust Fund of $25 billion to help youth find jobs to the Light Up project which has improved the roads in the region, he has impressed many people. As many people in office usually only deal with the needs of the people with money or those in the elitist suburbs.

Ambode spent 27 years in the civil service until he voluntarily retired in 2012. He then went on to found the Brandsmiths Consulting Limited a company that provided Management and Public Financing services to the government. In 2016, he was named one of the most 100 influential people in Nigeria by Bella Naija.

The masculine name Akinwunmi has an African origin and means “Valor is pleasing to me”. The name is popular in the Nigerian country and is given to many people, like Akinwunmi Isola the Nigerian actor, playwright, culture activist, dramatist, and scholar.