Lagos Gets First Female Speaker, Mojisola Meranda

The Lagos State House of Assembly has sworn in its first female Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

Meranda took her oath of office after the impeachment of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Monday during a plenary session.

She represents the Apapa 1 state constituency in the assembly.

She was first elected as a member of the House in 2015, representing Apapa constituency 1. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

Before her time in the House, Mrs Meranda served the Apapa local government in different capacities. She also worked in the private sector.

Her late father was a legislator at the local level before he became the Ojora of Lagos. Her mother is from the prominent Oniru family in Lagos. Her brother is the Oniru of Iru land, Oba AbdulWasiu Omogbolahan Lawal.

Mrs Meranda began her primary education at St. Charles Nursery and Primary School before moving to Randle Primary School at Randle Avenue in Surulere from 1986 to 1992.

She attended Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School (1992-1996) and Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School (1996-1998), both in Surulere, where she was a library prefect and secretary of the press club.

She obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1998, according to her official House profile.

After her secondary education, Mrs Meranda obtained an advanced certificate in software development in 2005. She is also recorded as having attended Lagos State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration in 2013.

In 2018, she returned to school, enrolling at the University of Lagos.

In 2003, at the age of 23, she began working as a personal assistant to Dr. Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, a senior special assistant on technology and special projects to Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Between 2007 and 2008, Mrs Meranda worked in the oil and gas industry with Cirrus Nigeria Limited as a procurement manager.

She returned to politics in 2008, taking active roles in the Apapa local government, first as a senior special assistant on intervention and intergovernmental affairs to the then Chairman, Ayodeji Joseph, and later as a supervisory councilor for health.

In 2014, she joined Worthline International Services Limited as head of operations. Worthline was originally registered in 2012, with Mrs Meranda as a director.

And then in 2015, she was elected as a member of the House.