BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat, was
elected the Deputy Governor of Lagos State following the victory of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) at the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election. As
running mate to the Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu,
the duo pulled three-quarter of the total valid votes cast in the elections to
emerge winners.
Born on September 19, 1964,
ideologically progressive Dr. Hamzat joined the public service in 2005 from an
impressive career in the academics, financial services and engineering. As a
multidisciplinary professional with accomplishments in information technology
and consulting, he is impressively established as a visionary leader with focus
on excellence and performance.
Dr.
Hamzat brought into public service the energy and vitality of a private sector
executive after over 2 decades of 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 embraced his style of open and transparent leadership with
enthusiasm.
In four years,
he deployed a 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 the 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), His Excellency, 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
member of the Nigeria Computer Society and Fellow of Nigeria Society of
Engineers, with numerous exposures to international trainings 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 execution of numerous world-class projects and developmental agenda
towards 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. His Excellency, Dr. Hamzat finds joy in his public
office achievements, only when the impacts of his efforts make life better for
the people better, and 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 Awards. Beyond accolades, Hamzat’s
extensive knowledge and leadership ability have earned him important seats at
critical decision making and advisory tables both 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.