Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (born 1 May 1982) is a Nigerian engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician who is the current minister of interior of Nigeria. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State from 2019 to 2023.^[1]

During his first term in the house of representatives, he was the chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).^[2] On 26 February 2023, he was re-elected as the federal lawmaker representing Akoko North East and North West Federal Constituency. However, he resigned his membership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly after being appointed by President Bola Tinubu as minister of Interior on 16 August 2023.^[3]

Early life and education

Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, popularly called BTO was born in Oyin Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. He attended Ansarudeen Primary School, Oyin Akoko from 1987 to 1990 and Hakda International school in Kaduna from 1990 to 1992 before completing his primary education at Universal Primary School, Akure in 1993. He then proceeded to FUTA staff secondary school, Akure for his secondary education where he was elected the senior prefect in 1998.

In 1999, he gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering. In 2002, while in his third year at the Obafemi Awolowo University, he proceeded to the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University) where he studied Electronics and Communication Engineering and graduated in 2005. He obtained a master's degree in Digital Communication and Networking from the same institution in 2006. He holds certifications in eighteen professional qualifications in ICT including the prestigious title of being one of the first set of certified ethical hackers from Royal Britannia IT Training Academy in the United Kingdom before he turned 24 years.^[4]

Career

Before his advent into politics, Tunji-Ojo was an accomplished business and management executive with a flourishing career in ICT, becoming the CEO of a leading indigenous ICT consultant company in Nigeria, Matrix IT Solutions Limited, at the age of 24. As a professional, he holds a certification in Ethical Hacking and Counter Measures. He is also a certified CompTIA Network Plus Engineer and a Britannia Hardware A+ Management Certificate Holder.^[5]

In Nigeria, he consulted for the World Bank and several government agencies, including Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), National Health Insurance Scheme, Abuja (NHIS), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), various committees of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria Gas Company, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education among others.

In collaboration with the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), he pioneered the first Nigerian Content Workshop (NCW) in 2016, a forum for all stakeholders in the Oil and Gas Industry to discuss freely on the Policy Framework to improve indigenous participation and making use of the Nigerian Content Policy to domicile the best global productivity and performances in Nigeria.^[6] One of the goals of the workshop was to address the thematic issues, challenges, concerns, and ways forward and this was achieved with thirteen papers delivered and deliberated upon by speakers including Aminu Galadima (Ag. Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund); Bank Anthony Okoroafor (Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria); Waziri Adio (Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative); Geoff Onuoha (Chairman, Pipeline Professionals’ association of Nigeria, PLAN); Tunde Adelana (Director, M&ED, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board); Alhaji Habibu Abdullahi (Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority); Osagie Okunbor (Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director, SPDC); Godwin Emefiele (Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria); Tonye Cole (MD, Sahara Group); Taofeek Adegbite (Chief Executive, Marine Platforms Ltd) among others.

Politics

In 2019, he was elected into the House of Representatives of Nigeria to represent Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Upon his inauguration, he mobilized 246 other lawmakers to support the speakership ambition of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, under the forum of first-timers lawmakers,^[7][8] chaired by him. Months later, he was appointed by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).^[9] He led the House of Representatives Committee to probe alleged malfeasance of over 80 billion Naira in the commission, making it the first time a probe will be launched into the financial activities of the NDDC in its over twenty years of existence.^[10] In March 2021, his proposed bill to repeal the NDDC Act which will make abuse of office impossible, a bill that passed the first reading.^[10][11]

Tunji-Ojo was also a member of House of Representatives Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Local Content, Gas Resources, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Housing, FCT Area Council and Ancillary Matters, Solid Minerals and Pilgrims Affairs. Also on the 26th of February, he was re-elected as the federal lawmaker representing Akoko North East and North West Federal Constituency.^[12] At the start of the 10th assembly, he was the Director General of the campaign team of Hon. Tajudeen Abass, who later became the speaker of the house of representative.^[13] Few weeks into the start of his tenure as a second term lawmaker in the 10th assembly, he was appointed minister of Interior by president Bola Tinubu and was sworn in on 21 August 2023.^[14]

On 22 January 2021, he was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration by Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State.^[15] He is a recipient of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award of Excellence as well as the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award as a Worthy Ambassador of African Youth.

Personal life

He is married to Abimbola Tunji-Ojo who also hails from Ondo State and they have two children.^[16]

Awards and recognition

• Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration by Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State (2021)

• Award of Recommendation as a distinguished Lecturer at the 1st African and 2nd Nigeria Conference on Adolescent and Youth Health and Development Abuja, Nigeria (2021)

• Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ondo State Council As most outstanding constituents-friendly Federal Lawmaker of the year (2021)

• Award Of Excellence by House of Representatives Press Corps in recognition of excellent performance as Dean of oversight (2021)

• Transparency and anti-corruption award in recognition of pragmatic disposition to issues of transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption by National Assembly New Media Forum (2021)

• Southwest First Alert Magazine Merit Award as the best Federal incumbent Honourable Member for remarkable contributions towards the growth and development of South-West region (2020)

• Fellow’s award, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (2021)

• Gold award of excellence on Community Development by Southwest Nigeria Excellence Awards (2019)

• Outstanding leadership award as one of the key actors of the new Niger Delta by the Niger Delta Student Union Government (2021)

• Leadership award of excellence by Not Too Young To Rule Initiative (2019)

• Africa Value Awards (AVA) as the Legislator of the Year for effective Representation/Community Development (2021)

• 30 most Influential young Nigerians award by National Youth Council of Nigeria (2019)

• Award as Pacesetter in Political Representation by Akoko North West Local Government Council, Okeagbe Akoko, Ondo State (2019)

• Award of commendation by BEMORE EMPOWERED INITITATIVE of Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the Governor of Ondo State (2021)

• Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award of Excellence (2019)

• National Assembly Best Legislator of the year (2020, 2021)

• The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria Award of Excellence (2021)

• Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award as “Worthy Ambassador of African 2010 Youth” by All African Students Union (AASU)

• Excellence Award in Students Empowerment by The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) 2010

References