Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata is a politician and attorney from Nigeria who was born on October 7, 1972. Prior to his retirement on August 31, 2023, he was a senior partner and the head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at the Templars legal firm in Nigeria. He left the position to pursue partisan politics.He co-hosted “KingsWeek 2023” with the Old Boys Association at King’s College in Lagos in September of 2023. Additionally, he met Oke Abdulrahman, the College’s school captain for the 2023–2024 academic session. [1] In July 2020, he was elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association, making history as the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria to hold the position in 28 years.
Early Life
On October 7, 1972, Akpata was born in Nigeria’s Edo State. He graduated from the University of Benin in Edo State with a bachelor’s degree in law in 1992, and in 1993 he was admitted to the bar.[5] He participated in Kano State’s National Youth Service Corps.
Career
One of the most experienced litigators of his era, Dr. Mudiaga Odje, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, OFR, was Akpata’s mentor when he started his legal career in Delta State.[6]
After moving to Lagos in 1996, Akpata joined forces with his cousin Oghogho Akpata, who had recently founded the legal practice Templars. At the age of 23, Akpata participated in the founding of Templars and has since expanded the company into one of the biggest legal practices in Nigeria, employing over 100 attorneys, two of whom are Senior Advocates of Nigeria and both of whom are skilled practitioners in a variety of Nigerian legal fields.[6]
At the moment, Akpata leads the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group and is a senior partner.
of the Templars. He has taken part in a number of significant, ground-breaking deals that have influenced both the Nigerian economy and the practice of commercial law in Nigeria.[7][8][9] The Nigeria Bar Association’s (NBA-SBL) Section on Business Law was chaired by him.[10]
He received 9,891 votes out of 18,256 cast, making him the winner of the Nigerian Bar Association’s July 30, 2020 presidential election. He defeated Dele Adesina (SAN), who received 3,982 votes, and Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), who received 4,328 votes.
Government
On August 1, 2023, a momentous occasion arrived when Mr. Akpata formally entered the political sphere and reaffirmed his dedication to public service by becoming a member of the Labour Party (Nigeria). This action not only demonstrates his commitment to civic involvement but also marks a new direction in his quest to improve society. As a Labour Party member, Akpata is well-positioned to contribute his own viewpoint and ideas, helping to shape policy choices and championing causes that are consistent with the party’s principles. His entry into politics brings attention to the increasing range of opinions within the party and encourages a more inclusive and expansive conversation on issues of national significance.
