Mojisola Meranda has made history as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly as she assume the position on January 12, 2025, after Mudashir Obasa was impeached over fraud allegations.

Her emergence has not been without controversy as officials from the DSS and Nigeria Police stormed the Assembly, sealing off her office, along with those of her deputy and the clerk of the House.

For those who don’t know her, here are five quick facts about the new Speaker, Mojisola Merande:

Early Life: Meranda was born on August 16, 1980, into the well-known Akapo family in Lagos.

Family Background: Her father, the late Chief Taoreed Lawal-Akapo, was the Ojora of Lagos from 1977 to 1993. Her mother, Princess M.A Lawal Akapo, comes from the royal families of Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru.

Education: She attended St. Charles Nursery and Primary School and later Randle Primary School in Surulere.

For her secondary education, she went to Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School and then Ansar-ud-Deen Secondary School. In 2013, she earned a degree in Public Administration from Lagos State University.

Royal Lagos Roots: Mojisola Meranda comes from a royal family in Lagos. Her brother, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, is the Oniru of Iru land.

Political Career: She is one of four women in the Lagos House of Assembly. She first won her seat in 2015 after working at Apapa Local Government. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

Her political journey started when she worked as a personal assistant to Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, who served as a senior special assistant on technology and special projects to Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was governor.