The Lagos State House of Assembly has officially sworn in Barrister Adenike Oshinowo as its new Clerk, following the retirement of Barrister Olalekan Onafeko.
Oshinowo, who was appointed on April 28, 2026, becomes the first woman to hold the position since the establishment of the Assembly.
A seasoned expert in legislative drafting, she is known for her strong background in parliamentary administration, legal advisory work, and public sector governance.
She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, as well as a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Lagos State University, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995.
Her career began in private legal practice before she joined the Lagos State Civil Service in 1997 as a Legal Draftsman.
She later joined the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999, where she served until 2006 before transferring to the Ministry of Justice. She returned to the Assembly in 2008 and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming Deputy Clerk in 2021 before her appointment as Clerk in 2026.
Oshinowo is a member of professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.
Over the course of her career, she has received several honours, including the Lagos State House of Assembly Long Service Award in recognition of her contributions to public service.
BACKSTORY…
The appointment of Barrister Adenike Oshinowo as Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly marks the culmination of a long career within the state’s legislative and legal system.
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Her elevation followed the retirement of the previous Clerk, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, creating a vacancy in one of the Assembly’s top administrative positions.
Oshinowo’s journey spans several decades of public service. After being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995, she began her career in private legal practice before joining the Lagos State Civil Service in 1997 as a Legal Draftsman. Her expertise in legislative processes later led her to the Assembly in 1999, where she worked until 2006.
She later moved to the Ministry of Justice but returned to the Assembly in 2008, steadily rising through the administrative ranks due to her experience in legislative drafting and parliamentary operations. In 2021, she was appointed Deputy Clerk, a role that positioned her directly in line for the top administrative office.
Her emergence as Clerk in 2026 is also significant because she becomes the first woman to occupy the position since the Assembly was created, reflecting gradual progress in gender representation within legislative administration in Lagos State.
