Buhari Felicitates With Senator Ashafa As He Clocks 65

• Buhari hails Ashafa for is vital contribution to the success story of Lagos

• The president extols Ashafa altruistic disposition and his penchant for helping the downtrodden

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with Senator Gbenga Ashafa as he marks his 65th birthday anniversary.

Buhari conveyed his birthday wishes to the two term senator in statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

According to President Buhari,  Ashafa who represented Lagos East Senatorial zone between 2011 and 2019 “consistently identifies with and engages in programmes that uplift the down-trodden within his community”

He added that his humanitarian activities especially in the education, health and agricultural sectors among others “continue to endear him to his immediate constituencies and the state at large.”

The President says the Senator utilised his wealth of knowledge and experience in the private and public sectors to make his two-time senatorial spell memorable, contributing largely to bills impacting positively on the development of the country.

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Buhari also extolled Senator Ashafa on being part of the success story of Lagos State in particular and the nation at large, especially with his efforts in relation to bills which have helped reposition the rail sector as the face of the new transport system in Nigeria today.

The President joins family, friends and political associates of the distinguished Senator in celebrating the milestone, while wishing him more prosperous years in excellent health as he continues to serve his nation and mankind.

About Gbenga Ashafa

Gbenga Ashafa (born 22 July 1955) is a second term senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Lagos State. Senator Ashafa was inaugurated as a second-term senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District in the 8th senate (2015–2019) on 9 June 2015.

Upon completing National Youth Service in 1980 at the Federal Ministry of Health, Ashafa commenced a career in public service as an administrative officer into the Lagos State Unified Local Government Service Commission. He rose to the rank of area officer in charge of the departmental tenders board and the Finance and General Purpose Committee.

In 1990, Ashafa left the public sector for French-Calahan Ventures Limited, which held majority shares in a state controlled cocoa processing plant. He worked as Purchasing Manager at the processing plant for six years until 1996. In 1996, Ashafa founded a company called Beverage Specialties Limited, manufacturers of Choco-Vita (a liquid vitality drink) and Cocoa-Vita (a powdered vitality drink). He sold the business in 1998.

In 1998, Ashafa worked with a political group towards the emergence of then Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Alliance for Democracy gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State. He also worked on Senator Tinubu’s successful campaign for Governor of Lagos State, as one of the campaign coordinators for Kosofe LGA. Subsequently, as a co-opted member of the governor-elect’s transition team, he provided the blueprint for the local government reforms of the Tinubu administration.

At the start of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, Ashafa joined the Tinubu administration in September 1999 as Director of Planning, Governor’s Office in charge of local government administration. In this role, he effectively coordinated the activities of local government areas in the State; acting as the liaison between the Governor’s Office and Local Government Chairmen across the State.

In January 2001, Ashafa was appointed Executive Secretary, Lagos State Land Use and Allocation Committee. In this role, he was responsible for land allocation and management in Lagos State.

Ashafa was appointed Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau in February 2005.

Senatorial journey

Ashafa was elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the ACN candidate from Lagos East in April 2011. He won the election with 222,439 votes, 69% of votes cast. He was sworn in as a senator on 6 June 2011. In his first term, Ashafa the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development. He was also a member of the following Senate committees: Environment and Ecology Committee, Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Relations, Gas Committee, and Senate Services Committee.

Ashafa was inaugurated as a second-term senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District in the 8th senate on 9 June 2015. He is also a member of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress as well as the Vice Chairman (South West) of the Southern Senators Forum.

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