In this post, platinumtimes.ng chronicles the biography, career, background, net worth of Olumide Akpata.
Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata is a Lawyer and Politician from Edo State who has emerged as the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the state following his victory in the primary elections that held in the state in February, 2024.
He previously served as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and the first non-senior advocate to attain this position.
He was also a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm in Nigeria.
Profile summary
Name: Olumide Akpata
Place of birth: 7th October, 1972
Place of birth: Edo State, Nigeria
Education: University of Benin
Spouse: Osayamon Mitchell Ogbebor
Career: Politician, Legal expert
Background
Olumide Akpata was born on October 7th, 1972 in Edo State, Nigeria.
He had his early education in Warri, Delta State before proceeding to King’s College, Lagos for his secondary education.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in law from University of Benin, Edo state in 1992 and was called to the bar in 1993.
He carried out his compulsory one year National Youth Service in Kano State.
Career
Akpata began his legal practice in Delta state under the guidance of Dr. Mudiaga Odje, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, OFR, a renowned legal advocate in the country.
In 1996, Akpata moved to Lagos and worked at his cousin’s law firm, Templars, where he was instrumental in the growth and expansion of the firm to employ a workforce of about 100 lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, both of whom practice proficiently in diverse areas of Nigerian law.
Akpata was a senior partner and Head of the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of Templars and was part of the advising crew to the Nigerian Bureau of Public Enterprises on the restructuring and unbundling of the now-defunct state-owned power monopoly, National Electric Power Authority.
He also took active part on the acquisition of the National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria by a group of Nigerian investors in a US$152 million asset purchase transaction under the privatisation programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
During the deployment of Google Street View in Nigeria, Olu was part of the advising team for its successful actualization.
He has been involved in some of the vital projects that have changed the face of commercial law practice in Nigeria and indeed the Nigerian economy.
He was chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) and later elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association defeating two high ranking SANS to clinch the position.
Politics
He Joined politics in 2023 under the umbrella of the Labour Party with the aim of contributing to the betterment of the society.
As a member of the Labour Party, Akpata brings his outstanding perspective and ideas to the forefront so as to be pivotal in enacting policies and decisions that will be beneficial to the people.
He contested in the governorship primaries that held in the state on Friday 23rd February, 2024 on the Labour Party platform and emerged winner thereby becoming the gubernatorial flagbearer for the party.
Personal life
Olumide Akpata is married to Osayamon Michelle Ogbebor who hails from the Ogbebor family of Bini Kingdom, Edo State.
She is a graduate of Law (LL.B) from the University of Essex and a Master’s in Law (LL.M) from the Queen Mary University, London.
Their marriage took place in May 2022 and had in attendance top personalities in the country.
Olu is a member of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the United Nations Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (UN-NHF).
Net Worth
Olumide Akpata has a net worth estimate of about $5 million.
Awards
- The African Bar Association Award in 2022.
- Award of recognition from the Warri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association in recognition of his stewardship.