Nigerian politician (born 1960)
Akogun Kamarudeen Olalere "Lere" Oyewumi (born 5 January 1960) is a Nigerian politician, educator, philanthropist, and community development specialist who has served as the senator representing Osun West senatorial district since 2023. He was an Irewole Local Government Area chairman and a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives in the Third Republic. He is a former Commissioner of the National Population Commission, Abuja.
Early life.
Oyewumi was born on 5 January 1960, to Rabiu Ewuola Oyewumi of Elere's Compound, Ikire, Osun State, and Limota Arike Oyewumi.
Education.
He was educated at the Baptist Day School, Odeyinka, Ikire; Saint Augustine's Commercial Modern School, Ikire, where he obtained his modern III certificate in 1978; and Saint David's Grammar School, Ode-Omu. He was named the Senior Prefect and later completed the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE). With his Grade 1 in the 1981 School Certificate Examination, Oyewumi was adjudged the best student of then Irewole Local Government (comprising the current day Irewole, Ayedaade, and Isokan Local Governments). After leaving school, he was employed by the old Oyo State Ministry of Works and Transport as a clerical officer. In 1983, Akogun was admitted to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) to study geography and obtained a bachelor's degree in Second Class Honours Upper Division in 1987. From 1987 to 1988, he had the statutory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in Benue State. Oyewumi later obtained a master's in community development in 2006 and a doctoral degree from the University of Ibadan in 2016.
Employment.
After serving his mandatory NYSC in 1988, Oyewumi secured employment as an education officer in the Federal Ministry of Education and was seconded to the Federal Government Girl's College, New Bussa, Niger State. He taught until 1992, when he entered politics. Oyewumi served as chairman and chief executive officer of an NNPC concessional petrol station in the private sector.
Politics.
Oyewumi's political career began during his undergraduate years at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), when he was elected national vice president of the National Association of Nigeria Geography Students. At various times, he was secretary and president of the National Association of Ikire Students (NAIS) at the OAU Chapter and National body. In 1992, some five years after he left university, Oyewumi contested and, through the massive votes of his people in Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, won a seat in the House of Representatives, Abuja, under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), whose presidential candidate was Bashorun MKO Abiola. He was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on National Agriculture Land Development Authority (NALDA).
The political instability of the period brought the Republic to an abrupt end. Subsequently, Akogun Oyewumi joined forces with other democrats to defend the country's fledgling democracy. On June 12, Oyewumi became chairman of the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere in Irewole's Local Government, and he, together with other politicians and lovers of democracy, galvanized and articulated the message of "June 12" in every nook and cranny of Osun State. He was actively involved in the struggle to drive the military government of General Babangida and General Sani Abacha back to the barracks.
With the return of civilian rule in 1999, Akogun was made the publicity secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State. In 2004, after serving as a caretaker chairman of Irewole Local Government for one year, he was elected substantive chairman and served in this capacity until 2011, when Governor Rauf Aregbesola's government dissolved the state's local councils. Oyewumi was made the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State and vice president of the national executive.
Olalere, in the February 25, 2023 general election, won as the senator representing Osun West. Senator Lere Oyewumi of PDP won with 138476 votes to defeat his close opponent Amidu Tadese of APC.
Achievements.
During his tenure as chairman of the Irewole local government, Oyewumi facilitated the construction and rehabilitation of the Sunmoye-Obada road, Obada-Jolaiya-Sabo road, Itaakun-Popo road, Oke-Ola-Oluofinrin road, Iyana-Egba-Ayedaade road, Okiti Islamiya road, and Itaakun-Molak junction. His government is reputed to have also facilitated the general electrification of specific areas in Irewole Local Government with the erection of concrete poles and the provision of cables and extensions. During his administration, he further ensured five units of 500 KVA transformers were procured and installed to cater to the growing suburban population of the district. This particular performance of Oyewumi's government motivated RUWESA, in conjunction with UNICEF in 2010, to provide an additional 250 units of boreholes to the local government.
In addition, over 200 public taps spread across the length and breadth of Irewole Local Government were constructed. In November 2023, Oyewumi organized a community development drive where he facilitated the provision of 500 bags of fertilizer, 120 motorcycles, and a grant of N25 million for women and youths. It is unclear if these gestures were motivated by his decision to run for further political positions.
Honours.
Oyewumi was honored as the Best Chairman in the South West by International Trade and Services, South Africa. He was also awarded the Best Nigerian Local Government Chairman in the Provision of Infrastructural Facilities by the Grassroots Development Survey, Abuja. Oyewumi holds the traditional titles of Akogun of Awoland, Apesin of Ikireland, Fiwajoye of Ola, Aare Atunluse of Erin-Osun, Jagun–Osin of Imesi-ile, Jagunmolu of Ilie, Bobajiro of the Ora Kingdom and Atayese of the Ikoyi Kingdom, and Atunluse of Ila Kingdom.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;