Lagos is not just another state. It is Nigeria’s economic powerhouse, a city of enormous ambition, enterprise and possibilities. It is the place where dreams come to be tested, where people arrive every day looking for opportunities and where millions of Nigerians, regardless of where they come from, have built their lives.
But Lagos is also a complicated city. Its population is growing. Its infrastructure is under constant pressure. Transportation, housing, healthcare, security, education, the environment and job creation all require increasingly sophisticated solutions. That is why I believe the next governor of Lagos needs to be more than a good politician.
Lagos needs a problem-solver. A builder. A leader who understands systems, infrastructure, technology, business and government. Most importantly, Lagos needs someone who already understands the machinery of the state.
And this is where my choice comes in. My vote is for Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.
I am not making this choice because I believe he is perfect. I don’t believe any anybody is. I am making it because, when I look at his educational background, professional experience and years of public service, I see a man whose preparation is particularly suited to the challenges facing Lagos.
Education That Matters
Hamzat is an engineer by training. He studied Agricultural Engineering at the University of Ibadan, obtaining his B.Sc. in 1986 and M.Sc. in 1988, before earning a Ph.D. in System Process Engineering from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom in 1992. (You can fact check me)
Some may ask: What has engineering got to do with governing Lagos? Quite a lot, in my opinion.
Lagos is one giant interconnected system. Traffic affects productivity. Infrastructure affects business. Housing affects transportation. Technology affects government efficiency. Poor planning in one area inevitably creates problems somewhere else.
Someone trained to think in terms of systems and processes, therefore, brings a useful perspective to the job.
Before Politics, There Was Professional Experience
Another reason I find Hamzat’s profile compelling is that his career did not begin in politics.
His professional experience includes work with institutions and organisations such as Columbia University, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Oando Plc, where he served as Chief Information Officer and Group Head of IT Strategy. (You can still fact check me)
That matters to me.
I believe public office benefits from people who have experienced the world outside government —people who have managed organisations, worked with systems, understood technology and operated in competitive professional environments.
Hamzat brought that experience into public service.
Then He Came Into Lagos Government
Hamzat became Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology in 2005 and later served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure between 2011 and 2015. He also served as Special Adviser on Works at the federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing. (No need to fact check this, it’s open knowledge )
Those roles are important because they speak directly to some of Lagos’ biggest needs.
Technology.
Infrastructure.
Planning.
Execution.
And governance.
He subsequently became Deputy Governor of Lagos in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. In May 2026, he emerged as the APC candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
So when I look at his journey, I see something I consider valuable:
Engineer.
Technocrat.
