James Adisa Owolabi (born October 1, 1960)[1] is a businessman and a Nigerian politician serving as the Federal Representative for the Ifako Ijaiye constituency in the 9th Nigerian National Assembly at the House of Representatives.[2] A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Owolabi serves on the Pilgrims Affairs Committee and is its vice chairman[3][4] until May 2023.

Honourable
James Owolabi
Born (1960-10-01) October 1, 1960 (age 64)
Lagos
CitizenshipNigerian
EducationOdu-Abore Memorial Primary School, Iyala
Alma materThe Polytechnic, Ibadan
Olabisi Onabanjo University
University of Abuja
Occupations
  • Politician
  • businessman
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (APC)

Education and early career

edit

Owolabi was born in Lagos and began his primary education at Odu-Abore Memorial Primary School in Iyala Mushin. He later pursued his secondary education at Mutailatu College in Ibadan. He holds a National diploma (ND) and a Higher National diploma (HND) in Public Administration from the Polytechnic in Ibadan, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye. He went on to obtain a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Abuja.[5]

Political career

edit

Owolabi has been an active politician since 1990, serving as party secretary for Agege local government under Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992.[2] He was a Councilor in the Agege local government under the Zero party platform in 1996 to 1997 aftermath the local government elections.[6] He was appointed political adviser to the Executive Chairman Ifako-Ijaiye local government from 1998 - 2003 during Adefolabi's tenure as the chairman of Ifako Ijaiye LGA.[7] Yet again, he was appointed political adviser to the Chairman of Ojokoro LCDA under Ifako-Ijaiye local government from 2004 to 2007. Notably, Owolabi served as legislative aide during the 6th Nigerian National Assembly to Honourable Morufdeen Adeola Adefolabi, member of the House of Representatives representing the Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency (2007 - 2011).[1] Again, he was appointed Senior Legislative Aide during the 8th Nigerian National Assembly to Honourable Elijah Olu Adewale, member of the House of Representatives representing Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency (2015 - 2016) who slumped and died in his house.[8][2]

In 2019, Owolabi emerged victorious in the House of Representatives election as the representative of the Ifako-Ijaiye Federal constituency defeating Mrs. Fatimah Mohamed, the Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).[9][10] However, in 2022, his attempt to be reelected and continue representing his constituency was cut short during the party primaries election. Hon. Benjamin Adeyemi Olabinjo defeated him to become the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ifako-Ijaye Federal constituency in Lagos State.[11][12]

Concerned about the ecological degradation in his constituency, Owolabi proposed a motion of urgent public importance regarding the areas in Ifako-Ijaiye that have been affected by ecological issues.[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Oguntoyinbo, Samuel (2019-09-17). "Meet Hon. James Adisa Owolabi: APC Ifako-Ijaiye Federal House of Representatives". Naija Lagos. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  2. ^ a b c "National Assembly | Federal Republic of Nigeria". nass.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. ^ "Chairmen and Deputies of Standing and Special Committees in the 9th House of Representatives" (PDF). PLAC. July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  4. ^ "Lawmakers - ConsTrack Track and Report on Governement Funded Projects in Nigeria". constrack.ng. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  5. ^ "Hon.James Adisa Owolabi: Why I'm the best of them all to represent Ifako-Ijaye Fed. Constituency". 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  6. ^ "Nigeria". www.hrw.org. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  7. ^ "Past Executive Chairmen, Exe. Secretaries & Sole Admin". Ojokoro Local Council Development Area. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  8. ^ "Breaking News: House of rep. member, Adewale slumps, dies". P.M. News. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  9. ^ "APC Wins Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency of Lagos". This Day. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  10. ^ Nwachukwu, John Owen (2019-02-25). "Election results: INEC announces winner of Lagos Ifako-Ijaye constituency". Daily Post. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  11. ^ "Olabinjo emerges APC Reps candidate for Ifako-Ijaiye". The Nation. 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  12. ^ "Rep. Owolabi loses APC Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency ticket". The Eagle. 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  13. ^ "House of Reps Votes and Proceedings" (PDF). PLAC. July 2019. Retrieved 2023-03-28.