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Gbolahan Yishau, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represents Eti-Osa 2 in the 10th Lagos State House of Assembly.
He was first elected in 2011 and is presently the chairman of the House committee on economic planning and budget.
Early life
Mr. Yishau was born on December 8, 1967, on Lagos Island. His father, the late Alhaji Modiyu Liadi Yishawu, was the first Alhaji of Lagos, and his mother, the late Alhaja N. A. Yishawu (née NuruOniwo), also hailed from Lagos.
He began his education at A.D.R.A.O International School, Victoria Island, and later attended Government College Lagos in Eric Moore.
Mr. Yishau completed both his O’levels and A Levels at Greylands International College in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, in 1985. That same year, he was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned a bachelor of engineering degree in 1990.
Political career
Mr. Yishau began his political career in 2003 when he served as a member of the Executive Committee of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Government Area.
In 2005, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Bursary and Scholarship Board for Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
In 2011, he was elected to represent Eti-Osa II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, serving his first term until 2015.
He successfully secured re-election for a second term in 2015 and went on to win a third term in 2019. Currently serving his fourth term, Mr. Yishau was re-elected in the 2023 elections.
Legislative work
In a 2023 interview with Premium Times, Mr. Yishawu revealed that his legislative work addresses a broad range of societal issues, particularly focusing on protecting vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. His approach aligns with his belief that “the people must always come first,” which guides his policy-making and community engagements.
Yishawu has also placed a strong emphasis on youth and professional empowerment within his constituency. Through initiatives such as the “GOY Micro-Business & Entrepreneurship Support Programme,” thousands of individuals have been trained in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and vocational disciplines.
His programs are designed to combat unemployment and poverty by equipping participants with the tools and resources they need to become self-reliant. To date, more than 2,000 students have received training, and over 200 exceptional trainees have been awarded start-up tools to help them establish their own businesses.
In addition to youth empowerment, Yishawu has continuously supported vulnerable groups like market women, widows, and artisans by providing business tools, cash grants, and foodstuffs. His empowerment programs have also provided educational assistance, distributing free JAMB forms and scholarships to thousands of students, helping them pursue higher education and secure better futures.
Since beginning his legislative career, Yishawu has sponsored and cosponsored 27 bills, with 20 already passed into law. He has also put forward 32 motions addressing a wide range of societal improvements.
One of his key achievements is the successful passage of the Smoking in Public Places Law, which protects non-smokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Another significant contribution is his work on the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, which incorporates aspects of his proposed Rape Victim Shield and Civil Liability Bill. This law offers crucial protection for rape victims, encourages the effective prosecution of sexual crimes, and provides compensation for victims, ensuring their rights are safeguarded in both criminal and civil proceedings.