Lagos Assembly swears in Adenike Oshinowo as first female Clerk

The Lagos State House of Assembly has sworn in Barrister Adenike Oshinowo as its new Clerk, making her the first woman to hold the position since the Assembly was established.

 

Oshinowo succeeds Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, who recently retired from the service.

 

Appointed on April 28, 2026, Oshinowo is a legislative drafting specialist with extensive experience in parliamentary administration, legal advisory services and public sector governance.

 

She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Lagos State University. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995.

 

Oshinowo began her legal career in private practice before joining the Lagos State Civil Service as a legal draftsman in 1997.

 

She joined the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999, served until 2006, and later returned in 2008 after a stint at the Ministry of Justice. She rose through the ranks to become Deputy Clerk in 2021 before her appointment as Clerk in 2026.

 

She is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA).

 

Throughout her career, Oshinowo has received several honours, including the Lagos State House of Assembly Long Service Award, in recognition of her contributions to legislative service.