By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Lagos State House of Assembly has sworn in Barrister Adenike Oshinowo as its first female Clerk, marking a historic milestone in the legislative institution’s history.
Oshinowo was formally sworn in on Monday following the retirement of her predecessor, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko.
She had earlier been appointed to the position in April by the Assembly leadership, becoming the first woman to occupy the office since the creation of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Clerk is the highest-ranking administrative officer of the Assembly and is responsible for overseeing legislative procedures, parliamentary administration and the day-to-day management of the House.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had announced Oshinowo’s appointment following the expiration of Onafeko’s tenure.
The appointment was part of a broader reorganisation within the Assembly’s administrative structure.
A seasoned legal practitioner and legislative drafting expert, Oshinowo brings nearly three decades of experience in public service and parliamentary administration.
She holds a Master of Laws degree in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Lagos State University. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995.
Her career in public service began in 1997 when she joined the Lagos State Civil Service as a Legal Draftsman. She first served in the Lagos State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2006 before moving to the Ministry of Justice. She later returned to the Assembly in 2008 and rose through the ranks, serving as Deputy Clerk before her elevation to the top administrative position.
Oshinowo’s appointment adds to a growing list of women breaking barriers in the Lagos Assembly. In January 2025, Mojisola Meranda made history as the first female Speaker of the House, underscoring increasing female representation in the state’s legislative leadership.
Observers say Oshinowo’s emergence is expected to strengthen legislative administration and deepen institutional governance within the Assembly as it continues to play a key role in lawmaking and oversight in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
