History Made As Lagos Assembly Appoints First Female Clerk

The Lagos State House of Assembly has officially inaugurated Barrister Adenike Oshinowo as its new Clerk, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold the position since the Assembly’s establishment.

Her inauguration follows the retirement of the immediate past Clerk, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko. Oshinowo’s appointment, which took effect on April 28, 2026, reflects her decades of experience in legislative administration, legal advisory services, and public sector governance.

Widely respected for her expertise in legislative drafting, Oshinowo holds a Master of Laws degree in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Lagos State University. She was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1995.

She began her legal career in private practice before joining the Lagos State Civil Service in 1997 as a Legal Draftsman. In 1999, she moved to the Lagos State House of Assembly, where she served until 2006 before taking up responsibilities at the Ministry of Justice. She later returned to the Assembly in 2008 and steadily advanced through the ranks, earning promotion to Deputy Clerk in 2021 and eventually being elevated to the position of Clerk in 2026.

Reports indicate that Oshinowo is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association. Throughout her distinguished career, she has received multiple commendations for her contributions to public service, among them the Lagos State House of Assembly Long Service Award.