Omolara Oyekan-Olumegbon, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is the lawmaker representing Lagos Island I in the 10th Lagos State House of Assembly.
She also serves as the chairman of the House committee on women affairs, poverty alleviation and job creation.
A first-term lawmaker, Mrs. Oyekan-Olumegbon is the daughter of the late Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan and wife of the late Olumegbon of Lagos, Chief Fatai Lawal.
Upon taking office in 2023, she pledged to prioritize legislation in favour of youth and women, as well as “focus on agriculture and artificial intelligence.”
Early life
Born and raised in the palace, Princess Oyekan-Olumegbon is the daughter of the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II — the 19th Oba of Lagos. Her mother is also the daughter of the late Chief llumo Ajasa Ogunlana, Obanikoro of Lagos.
She had her primary school education at Crescent International School, Kano and her secondary education at Supreme Education Foundation Magodo, Lagos.
After secondary school, she proceeded to Bowen University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2008. She furthered her education with a master’s degree in international relations and strategic studies from the Lagos State University (LASU).
Subsequently, Princess Oyekan-Olumegbon began her career at International and General Insurance (IGI) as a compliance officer.
Thereafter, she worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprises in Abuja as a special assistant to the managing director.
Wife to the late Olumegbon of Lagos, Chief Fatai Lawal, the lawmaker’s marital ties and royal roots undoubtedly played a significant role in cultivating her political ambitions.
Political career
Mrs. Oyekan-Olumegbon’s journey into politics began in 2011. She formally joined the APC in 2014.
In 2015, she was appointed as the deputy executive secretary of the Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area.
As part of her contributions to the community, she built a borehole in the Ajah/Ilaje area. This was her first-ever project which, according to her, was funded by her salary.
In her role as deputy executive secretary, she was responsible for health services, overseeing the development of laboratories and ensuring medications were readily available to health centres in Eti-Osa.
Additionally, she says she mobilised friends and corporate contacts to install solar-powered street lights and transformers in the local council.
She later stepped down voluntarily from the role.
Legislative work
Following in her father’s footsteps – (as) a renowned pacifist and unifier, Princess Oyekan-Olumegbon envisions herself as a “bridge for Lagos Islanders”.
A valuable asset that helps bring this vision to life is her ‘fluency’ in Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa – a testament to her diverse cultural awareness.
As one of only four women in the House, she is particularly passionate about women and youth empowerment, poverty reduction, and job creation.
Shortly before her inauguration into the House in June 2023, she hit the ground running, organising a community outreach program under her establishment, The Queen Mother Organisation.
The programme, held in April 2023, was aimed at providing welfare support to petty traders within the Lagos Island environs.
“We attended to over 1,000 plus people”, she said in a statement after the exercise.
About 1,000 bags of 7kg rice, boxes of palliative, golden penny noodles, recharge cards, and envelopes of money were said to have been shared.
Later that year in September, the lawmaker showcased her commitment to providing more access to quality education for young pupils when she organised a back-to-school initiative. About 170 students were said to have benefitted from that program.
Also in March 2024, she was part of a group of officials who encouraged students to speak up against domestic violence.
Fulfilling one of her major campaign promises, Mrs. Oyekan-Olumegbon commenced a food bank project in April 2024, carried out through The Queen Mother Organisation.
Tagged the ‘Senator Oluremi Tinubu Food Bank’, foodstuffs were sold at discounted prices, as high as 50 to 75 percent off
According to her, the initiative was conceived to reduce the effects of the harsh economic reality in the country.
“I wanted to have an initiative where people would buy food at subsidised prices, way back in 2022. I didn’t know this was going to happen in the country as at when I said that, so I reached out to a few people and I said this is the time to do it,” she said.
Mrs. Oyekan-Olumegbon has also commenced work to fulfil another one of her campaign promises – ensuring a safer Lagos Island Constituency 1 through the installation of street lights.