Rotimi Akerodolu a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and present Governor of Ondo State. Served in various capacities as a lawyer before being elected as the Governor of the State where he was once the Attorney General of.
Full name: Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu
Date of Birth: 21st July 1956
Nationality : Nigerian
Occupation : Lawyer, Politician; present Governor of Ondo State(elected in 2017)
Spouse: Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (married 1981)
Children: Four.
Parents: Rev. J. Ola Akeredolu, Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu
Early Life
Born on 21st July, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State to the family of Late Reverend J.O Ola Akeredolu and Lady Evangelist Grace.B Akeredolu.
Education
He started from Government School, Owo for his primary education before going on to Aquinas College, Akure for his secondary school education then Loyola College, Ibadan for his Higher School Certificate. He then moved on to Obafemi Awolowo University (then University of Ife) to study Law, he graduated 1977 before he was called to the Nigerian Bar as a certified Lawyer in 1978.
Career
Called to bar in 1978, Rotimi Akeredolu served in various capacities as a lawyer, he served the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) both at the Branch level and National level. From being a Secretary, NBA Ibadan Branch from 1985-1986; to being a Member, National Executive Council, NBA from 1985 till date; was also The National Publicity Secretary 1988-1989; Vice Chairman, NBA Ibadan Branch, 1992-1994; Member Council of Legal Education 1997-1999; Life Member Body of Benchers; Chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria 2005-2006; National President NBA 2008-2010; Member Council of Legal Education 2008-2010; Member of Council, International Bar Association 2008-2010; Member of Council, Pan African Lawyers Union 2008-2010; Member, National Judiciary Council 2010-2012. He was conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) the highest Honour in legal profession in Nigeria in 1998 as a mark of recognition of his service, brilliance, erudition to the profession.
He was appointed Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice in Ondo State in 1997.
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu entered the scene of politics as an ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) member the then main opposition party in the country. By 2014 when All Progressive Congress (APC) was formed, he became the first State Chairman (interim) and foremost mentor to the party in Ondo State where he later became the Governor through a free and fair Governorship election in 2016, he was sworn in fully as Governor of Ondo State on Friday, 24th of February, 2017. He’s currently serving is second term after being re-elected again in 2020.
He has been involved in many other great things along the way.
Personal Life
He’s been married to Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria) since 18th April, 1981. They are blessed with four children; Olur8otimi Akeredolu (Jnr), Dr. Teniola Akeredolu, Mrs. Yejide Runsewe and Babajide Akeredolu (appointed Director-General of Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit); and four grandchildren.
Awards and Honours
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been involved in a lot of good things which have given him notable recognitions and awards:
- ΔVice President, Students’ Union, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) 1975-1976
- ΔLoyola College Old Boys’ Association Merit Award, 1995
- ΔOAU Alumni Association Merit Award, 1995
- ΔSports Writers Association Merit Award as the Legal Adviser, 1995
- ΔSports Writers Association Merit Award as the Patron, 1998
- ΔQatari Bar Association Award
- amongst many other.
Website and Social Media Handles
- aketi.org
- facebook: Rotimi Akeredolu Aketi
- instagram: @RotimiAketi
- twitter: @RotimiAkeredolu.
