The former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and member of the influential Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, turns 68 today, August 24, 2026.
Born on August 24, 1958, in Epe, Lagos State, Ikuforiji cut his academic teeth at Local Authority Central School and Epe Grammar School, where he made history in 1975 as the only candidate, out of 105 who sat the exam, to score a Division One.
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That early distinction foreshadowed a political career that would make him the longest-serving Speaker in the history of the Lagos State House of Assembly, a record that was surpassed by
A Legislative Legacy
Ikuforiji represented Epe Constituency I in the Assembly from 1999 to 2015, presiding as Speaker from December 2005 until June 2015 — a decade-long tenure spanning the administrations of Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, and part of Akinwunmi Ambode’s first term.
His political affiliations tracked Lagos’s ruling bloc through its various iterations, from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and finally the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 2013.
In 2014, Ikuforiji sought to move from the legislature to the Lagos Government House, declaring his ambition to succeed Fashola as governor.
Though he lost the APC primary to Ambode, the run cemented his standing as one of the more formidable political figures to emerge from Epe Division, and he has remained a fixture of the state’s ruling establishment in the years that followed.
Life After the Assembly
Away from the chamber, Ikuforiji quietly returned to the classroom. While still Speaker, he enrolled for a law degree at the University of Lagos and was later called to the Nigerian Bar, alongside a Doctor of Business Administration in Leadership from Liverpool John Moores University’s Liverpool Business School.
Today, he sits on the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a body that keeps sitting governors within reach of the state’s political old guard and guides them.
The former Lagos Assembly leader also holds traditional titles tied to his Epe roots, including the Aare Alaketu of Ketu Kingdom.
Ikuforiji remains a vocal commentator on governance, recently giving President Tinubu a “pass mark” on the economy while urging greater accountability at the state and local government levels.
In April, he endorsed the governorship ambition of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, backing his bid ahead of the APC primaries, which he eventually won in a landslide.
The endorsement came during a consultative visit by Hamzat to Ikuforiji as part of his engagements with key stakeholders and power brokers within the Lagos APC ahead of the party’s primary election.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that, during the engagement, the former speaker urged the deputy governor to give deliberate attention to Epe and its surrounding communities, positioning the area as a potential economic hub with strengths in fishing, tourism, and other productive sectors capable of contributing more significantly to the state’s economy if properly harnessed. Both men share political roots in Ward A4 of the division, a factor said to have reinforced the emphasis on Epe’s developmental prospects.
Ikuforiji also assured the Hamzat of political support within the division, pledging to mobilise party members, existing grassroots structures, and APC leadership in Epe to back Hamzat’s candidacy for governor in the 2027 elections.
Encomiums Pour In
In celebration of his birthday, tributes have poured in from across Epe and Lagos’s political and traditional establishment.
Leading the celebrations, the Olu Epe-in-Council hailed him as embodying “excellence, experience, leadership, and statesmanship.”
The council added that his “contributions to the development of Lagos State and commitment to public service remain worthy of commendation and admiration,” and prayed for “sound health, renewed strength, abundant grace” in the years ahead.
In a similar vein, Epe Local Government Chairman, Hon. Surah Animashaun, described his journey as “a testament to the enduring impact of purposeful public service.”
She noted that Ikuforiji’s “commitment to good governance remain[s] worthy of recognition and celebration,” calling it proof of “the legacy of excellence, experience, and statesmanship” he continues to embody.
Meanwhile, Eredo LCDA Chairman, Hon. Ismail Monsuru Akinloye, called the celebrant “a rare gem and distinguished statesman” whose “unwavering dedication to the growth of our dear Epe Division” remains worthy of commendation.
Akinloye credited him with “passion, vision, and genuine commitment to repositioning Epe Division” in line with the ideals of President Tinubu.
Also joining the chorus, Executive Director of Customer Centricity and Marketing at Galaxy Backbone Limited, Olusegun Olulade, celebrated him as “an illustrious statesman… a brother, and a true son of Epe.”
He added that Ikuforiji’s “years of dedicated service and leadership have left an enduring mark” and continue to “inspire many” across the community.
In nearly identical terms, the Commissioner representing Epe Division at the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Ahmed Seriki, echoed that sentiment.
He praised Ikuforiji as “an exceptional leader who continues to demonstrate love and commitment to the people,” and cited his “wealth of experience” as “a valuable asset to our people.”
Likewise, Epe Kayokayo Festival Coordinator, Bayo Saliu-Okulu, described him as “an astute legislator” whose career reflects “steadfast leadership, wisdom, selflessness and an enduring commitment to the advancement of our beloved Epe community.”
He further praised Ikuforiji’s role in “preserving our history, faith and cultural heritage,” and prayed for him to enjoy “long life in sound health, abundant prosperity” in the years ahead.
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Taken together, the tributes — from a traditional ruler-in-council, sitting local government chairmen, and community leaders — underscore the convening power Ikuforiji still commands in Epe Division, more than a decade after leaving the Assembly’s mace behind.
Click to watch the video of the week below:
