A Profile in Professional and Administrative Excellence
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, was born on May 1st, 1982, 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 proceeded to FUTA Staff Secondary School, Akure, for his secondary education, where he was elected 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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). He led the House of Representatives Committee to probe alleged malfeasance of over 80 billion Naira in the commission.
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 26 February, he was re-elected as the federal lawmaker representing Akoko North East and North West Federal Constituency.
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 Representatives.
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.
Awards and Recognition
- Personality of the Year 2023 Award by the Vanguard Newspaper
- Public Service Person of the Year 2023 by The Leadership Newspaper.
- On 22 January 2021, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration by Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State. 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.
- 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 the 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.
- The Honourable Minister is married to Abimbola Tunji-Ojo, who also hails from Ondo State, and they have two children.
