The Lagos State House of Assembly has officially sworn in Barrister Adenike Oshinowo as its new Clerk, making history as the first woman to occupy the position since the establishment of the state legislature.
Oshinowo’s inauguration follows the retirement of the immediate past Clerk, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko. Her appointment was approved on April 28, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the Assembly’s administrative leadership.
A seasoned legal practitioner and legislative expert, Oshinowo is widely respected for her extensive experience in legislative drafting, parliamentary administration, legal advisory services, and public sector governance. Her elevation to the top administrative office of the Assembly reflects decades of dedicated service within the Lagos State public sector.
Academically, Oshinowo holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Lagos State University. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995 and has since built an impressive legal and administrative career.
She began her professional journey in private legal practice before joining the Lagos State Civil Service in 1997 as a Legal Draftsman. In 1999, she was deployed to the Lagos State House of Assembly, where she served until 2006 before moving to the Ministry of Justice.
After spending two years at the Ministry of Justice, Oshinowo returned to the Assembly in 2008 and continued to rise through the ranks due to her competence and commitment to legislative administration. In 2021, she was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Assembly, a position she held until her promotion to Clerk in 2026.
Throughout her career, Oshinowo has played key roles in legislative processes and institutional development within the Assembly. Her expertise in legislative drafting and governance has earned her recognition among legal and parliamentary professionals.
She is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA), where she has contributed to discussions on legal practice and legislative development.
In recognition of her years of dedicated service, Oshinowo has received several honours, including the Lagos State House of Assembly Long Service Award.
Her appointment is widely seen as a landmark achievement for gender inclusion in legislative administration and is expected to further strengthen the institutional capacity of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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