By OPEYEMI ENIOLA
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic heartbeat and Africa’s most populous megacity, stands at a critical juncture. As Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term winds down, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has coalesced around Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election. For Nigeria’s private sector — from multinational corporations and fintech unicorns to local manufacturers, investors, and infrastructure developers — Hamzat represents continuity, competence, and a proven understanding of business realities.
A private-sector insider turned public servant
Dr. Hamzat’s appeal to business leaders is rooted in his own extensive private-sector pedigree. Born on September 19, 1964, in Lagos, he earned a BSc and an MSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan before obtaining a PhD in System Process Engineering from Cranfield University in the UK. He built a distinguished career in the United States and Nigeria, holding senior roles at RTP Consulting Services, the City of New York, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Oando Plc, where he served as Chief Information Officer and Group Head of IT Strategy.
This background is not merely decorative. Hamzat entered public service in 2005 as Commissioner for Science and Technology under then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was retained by Governor Babatunde Fashola. He pioneered Lagos’ digital transformation, implementing 11 modules of Oracle ERP — making Lagos the first government institution in Africa to achieve this. His initiatives modernized data systems, introduced biometrics, and virtually eliminated ghost workers, saving public funds and enhancing efficiency.
