Mojisola Meranda has officially been sworn in as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, making history as the first woman to hold the position in the state.
Her election follows the impeachment of her predecessor, Mudashiru Obasa, on Monday, January 11, 2025, due to allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency I, was appointed as the new Speaker following Obasa’s removal, marking a significant milestone in Lagos’ political landscape.
Born in August 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria, Meranda’s educational journey began at Randle Primary School, where she completed her primary education in 1992.
She went on to attend Anglican Girls Grammar School and later Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, earning her West African Senior School Certificate (WASC) in 1998.
Furthering her academic pursuits, Meranda obtained a Certificate in Software Development (Network Engineering) from the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT). She later earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Public Administration from Lagos State University (LASU) in 2013.
In 2020, she obtained a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from the University of Lagos. Meranda is also currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Public Sector Management at the University of York in the UK.
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Her professional career began with roles such as personal assistant to the Senior Special Assistant on Information Technology and later to the Director of the Land Information System Support Unit (LISSU) in the Surveyor General’s office. Meranda also served as the office manager of Cirrus Nigeria Limited in Lekki, Lagos, before becoming the Managing Director/CEO of Worthline International Services Limited, a company she founded.
Her political journey began in the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), which later evolved into the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and eventually the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In 2015, she contested and won a seat to represent Apapa Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In the 8th Assembly, Meranda chaired the House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), as well as the House Committee on Establishment, Training, Pension, and Public Service. During the 9th Assembly, she served as the Chief Whip. Prior to her election as Speaker, she was the Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly.
Meranda’s election as Speaker is seen as a progressive step in Lagos politics, with her extensive experience in both the public and private sectors positioning her as a strong leader in the Assembly.