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Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat was elected the Deputy Governor of Lagos State following the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory at the March 9, 2019, gubernatorial election. As running mate to the Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the duo pulled three-quarters of the total valid votes cast in the polls to emerge winners.

Born on September 19, 1964, ideologically progressive Dr. Hamzat joined the public service in 2005 from an impressive career in academics, financial services and engineering. As a multidisciplinary professional with accomplishments in information technology and consulting, he is impressively established as a visionary leader focusing on excellence and performance.

Dr. Hamzat brought into public service the energy and vitality of a private sector executive after over two decades of an exciting career spanning different sub-sectors of the economy such as RTP Consulting Services, City of New York, Columbia University, Merrill Lynch Inc., Morgan Stanley and Oando Plc., as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Group Head, IT Strategy. His headship as Commissioner at the Ministry of Science & Technology entrenched a new work culture among the staff, who enthusiastically embraced his open and transparent leadership style.

In four years, he deployed cutting-edge technology that integrated the entire Lagos State Public Service, and with that initiative, Lagos became the first government institution in Africa to implement 11 modules of Oracle ERP. On the strength of his performance, he was retained in the first term of Babatunde Fashola’s administration from 2007-2011 to continue with the technological innovation that brought efficiency to government activities in Lagos State.

In the second term of the administration (2011 to 2015), Dr. Hamzat was appointed Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to champion the State infrastructural revolution. He later served as Special Adviser (Technical) to His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, when he became the Honourable Minister of Works, Power and Housing before his nomination and subsequent election as the Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

Dr. Hamzat had his early education at Odu Abore Memorial Primary School in Mushin and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo. For his tertiary education, he attended the Prestigious University of Ibadan, graduated with a B.Sc. (Second Class Upper) in Agricultural Engineering in 1986 and earned an M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering in 1988 from the same University.

In 1992, he earned a Ph.D. in System Process Engineering from Cranfield University, England and was the first student in the department to complete his doctorate within three years. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who has two publications in reputable Scientific Journals to his name, is a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society and a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, with numerous exposures to international training, including the World Bank Third Country Training Programme in Singapore to understand the challenges facing the developing nations of the world.

A best-in-class public administrator, Dr. Hamzat is a strategic thinker who has coordinated the execution of numerous world-class projects and developmental agendas toward transforming Lagos state into Africa’s model megacity and financial hub.

He is a doer who pushes the boundary for excellence in public service without seeking undue limelight. Dr. Hamzat finds joy in his public office achievements only when the impacts of his efforts make life better for the people and the overall public interest is adequately served.

Highly revered and extensively decorated for his efficient resource utilization in the private sector and gallantry in public service, he was the winner of the 2013 edition of the Lagos State Man of the Year Award. Beyond accolades, Hamzat’s extensive knowledge and leadership ability have earned him important seats at critical decision-making and advisory tables in the state and countrywide.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, is a devout Muslim and committed family man whose marriage to Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat is blessed with lovely children. He is deeply interested in development economics, social welfare and gender empowerment and has remained a strong voice against discriminatory policies that debase humanity.