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Ganiyu Sanni of the All Progressives Congress (APC) represents Kosofe Constituency I in the 10th Lagos State House of Assembly.
Mr. Sanni hails from the family of Salaudeen Alabi Sanni of the Shookun Onilegbale Ruling House, Lagos Island.
In 2023, he defeated Osikuminu Akinwande Ayokunle of the Labour Party to represent Kosofe Constituency I.
Mr. Sanni has a background in accounting and management. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Institute of Entrepreneurs. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Local Government and Public Administration.
Early life and education
Born on March 28, 1965, Mr. Sanni grew up in Maryland.
He attended Saint Agnes Primary School in Maryland and Victory High School in Ikeja.
He earned an MBA from Lagos State University. He has an OND and HND in accounting from Yaba College of Technology. He also has a postgraduate diploma in management from the University of Calabar.
Before actively entering partisan politics in 2015, Mr. Sanni honed his skills in the public sector. From 1991 to 2004, he worked at the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service and the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency. He also served as secretary to the Kosofe Local Government from 2004 to 2007.
He was an accounts manager and consultant from 2009 to 2011. He was also the director of admin and operations at Milton Nelson Consulting from 2011 to 2015.
Political career
Growing up, Mr. Sanni attended community development and political meetings with his father. This early exposure set him up for a career in public service.
Mr. Sanni’s career in partisan politics began in 2015 with his appointment as Special Adviser on Food Security to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. In this role, Mr. Sanni helped establish LAKE Rice, a joint venture between Lagos and Kebbi States, and the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota.
“Agriculture has the highest demonstrated potential for job and wealth creation. Against this background, the agricultural sector should be one of the key instruments of achieving this laudable dream,” he said at a 2017 Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture briefing.
Legislative work
In 2019, Mr. Sanni became the legislative advocate for Kosofe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. He won the election by 39,837 votes. Last year, he was re-elected for a second term, winning by 11,649 votes.
Mr, Sanni told the press, after winning, that he faced many challenges. But he is grateful to God for the outcome.
“It’s regrettable that the campaign took an unfortunate direction, with some individuals resorting to ethnic divisiveness,” he said. “This should not be the deciding factor in elections. Instead, we should focus on merit, dedication, and performance records”.
In an interview with Constituency Connect, Mr, Sanni stressed his duty to make laws and represent his constituents.
“Represent your people well. Don’t be a backbencher. Don’t be a pushover. When it is time for appropriation, ensure that your constituency is well represented in the budget,” he said.
He explained that while lawmakers are crucial to governance, their primary role is to oversee projects, not execute them. Mr. Sanni has advocated for his constituents, tackling flooding, infrastructure, and community welfare.
He organised renewable energy training for constituents. He also set up a microbusiness fund for small business owners and widows.
He has facilitated the dredging of canals and the construction of bridges and link roads in his constituency. He has also provided boreholes in various communities.
Mr. Sanni championed education in his first term. He funded scholarships and high school debates. He built 18 classroom blocks in several schools. They include St. Francis Primary, Maryland, Muslim College, Oworonshoki, and Oworonshoki Primary School.
In 2021, he set up a computer lab at Emmanuel Primary School, Ojota.
“The aim of this ICT centre we are inaugurating today is to train our children in computers for creativity and innovation. For our children to measure up to the 21st century, every child must be computer literate,” he said.