Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON
National Office: Vice President of Nigeria (2015–2023)
Legal Rank: Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
Global Focus: Board Chair CAP-A, UNDP High Representative
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON
Immediate Past Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Professor Yemi Osinbajo served as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for two consecutive terms, from May 2015 to May 2023. Prior to this, he was Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State (1999–2007), where he spearheaded far-reaching judicial reforms that became national models.
A Professor of Public Law at the University of Lagos and founding partner of SimmonsCooper, Professor Osinbajo holds the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). His international legal engagements include serving in the justice sector of the United Nations mission in Somalia, the UN Secretary-General’s Committee on Rules of Conduct and Discipline for Peacekeeping Forces, Ethics Advisor to the Board of the African Development Bank, and Independent Director of Citibank Nigeria.
During his tenure as Vice President, he chaired the National Economic Council, oversaw the Economic Sustainability Plan, and chaired the Inter-Ministerial Energy Transition Implementation Working Group which launched Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan in 2022. He founded the North-East Children’s Trust and TEXT Foundation to empower orphaned and vulnerable youth through education.
Beyond office, Professor Osinbajo chairs the Climate Action Platform for Africa (CAP-A), founded Climate Positive, serves as High Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and is a Guardian of the Africa Innovation Foundation (Timbuktoo). In 2026, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition and serves on the Council of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.