Mojisola Lasbat Meranda is the deputy speaker of the 10th Lagos State House of Assembly. She was first elected as a member of the House in 2015, representing Apapa constituency 1. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.
Mrs. Meranda, a Lagos blue blood, was the Chief Whip of the ninth house.
Before her time in the House, Mrs. Meranda served the Apapa local government in different capacities. She also worked in the private sector.
She is one of only four women in the 40-member 10th assembly.
Early life and education
Mrs. Meranda was born on August 16, 1980, to the family of late Chief T. A Lawal Akapo (Ojora of Lagos) and Princess M. A. Lawal-Akapo of the royal families of Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru.
Her late father was a legislator at the local level before he became the Ojora of Lagos. Her mother is from the popular Oniru family in Lagos. Her brother is the Oniru of Iru land, Oba AbdulWasiu Omogbolahan Lawal.
Mrs. Meranda began her primary education at St. Charles Nursery and Primary School, before moving to Randle Primary School, at Randle Avenue in Surulere from 1986 to 1992.
She attended the Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School (1992-1996) and Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School (1996 -1998) both in Surulere where she was a library prefect and secretary of the press club.
She obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) examination in 1998, according to her official House profile.
After her secondary education, Mrs. Meranda obtained an advanced certificate in software development in 2005. She’s also on record to have attended the Lagos State University, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Public Administration in 2013.
In 2018, she returned to school, enrolling at the University of Lagos.
Political career
During an interview in 2021, Mrs. Meranda said she grew up in a family of politicians and lived with siblings whose love for politics triggered and shaped her passion for leadership.
“I had siblings that were into politics and I used to just sit down and listen to them, watch them and gradually, I learnt and thereafter picked interest in it,” she said. “It has always been in me to always want to give back to my community.
“So, I imagined myself in a particular position that I could influence people’s lives positively. So, that has always been in me. So, going into politics was like gaining a platform to reach out to my people.”
In 2003, at the age of 23, she began working as a personal assistant to Dr Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, a senior special assistant on technology and special projects to Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Between 2007 and 2008, Mrs. Meranda worked in the oil and gas industry with Cirrus Nigeria Limited as a procurement manager.
She returned to politics in 2008, taking active roles in the Apapa local government, first as a senior special assistant on intervention and intergovernmental affairs to the then Chairman, Ayodeji Joseph, and then as a supervisory councillor for health.
In 2014, she joined Worthline international services limited as head of operations. Worthline was originally registered in 2012, with Mrs. Meranda as a director.
And then in 2015, she was elected as a member of the House.
Legislative work
In 2021, Mrs. Meranda was asked about the bills she has sponsored as a legislator.
“I think it is not about sponsoring bills because we have a lot of old laws that need repeal and amendment,” she said.
“So, I think we need to update our own side first. It is not about sponsoring a bill and after a while, we leave it on the shelf. So, I think we should concentrate on the old laws that need amendment and maybe take a step further by ensuring that there is proper enforcement.”
She did not elaborate on the old laws that need amendment.
Meanwhile, she has been involved in implementing constituency projects such as medical outreaches, purchasing of Jamb forms, training for automobile mechanics and empowering them with digital diagnostic machines.
According to her, she has also completed water projects, furnished schools with furniture and supported petty traders and widows.
It is not clear if these projects were conducted with her own personal funds or allocated funds from the House of Assembly.
Advocating gender equality
The lawmaker is an advocate of gender equality and has called for women to be allowed fair and full representation, especially in political circles.
“The way people look at women in power,” she said in an interview. “When we have some issues to discuss and you hear statements like ‘se bi obinrin le yin’ (aren’t you just a lady?).”
“You know what used to strike me a lot about the question was what being a woman had to do with it. We all contested for the same offices. So, what were they talking about? What I spent for my election might be different from theirs but, we all went out there to contest, not that because we are females, we just sat down and they brought the ticket for us.”
She believes there needs to be massive reorientation that women are on “the same level” with men, especially when it comes to political participation.
“I did not get it on a platter of gold,” she said of her entry into the House in 2015. “Power is not served a la carte. You need to go out there and get it. In 2015, I contested with a sitting member. We went through the primaries together and I won. Nobody brought the ticket for me at home. I campaigned. I did my networking and my marketing within the political setting. I marketed my product to the people and those who believed in the product bought it.
“You need to know that if you get it on a platter of gold, you won’t appreciate it. But, if you go through the process, you will appreciate it better. You will value it and appreciate those that were on that journey with you rather than just sitting back and someone is bringing the ticket to you. You will only be responsible to that person.”