Jimi Agbaje

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jimi Agbaje

| honorific_suffix = OON

| image = Olujimi_.K._Agbaje.jpg

| party = Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1957|3|02}}

| birth_place = Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

| spouse = Abiola Agbaje (née Bankole) {{small|(1982–present)}}

| alma_mater = St Gregory's College, Lagos
University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University)

| occupation = Pharmacist, Politician

| website = {{URL|www.jimiagbaje.com}}

| birth_name = Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje

}}

Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje ({{Audio|Yo-Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje.ogg|pronunciation|help=no}}), popularly known as Jimi Agbaje; (born 2 March 1957), is a Nigerian politician who has unsuccessfully contested for the governor of Lagos State for four consecutive times, between 2007 and 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/01/21/countdown-to-2019-profile-of-the-pdp-lagos-governorship-candidate-jimi-agbaje/|title = Countdown to 2019: Profile of the PDP Lagos governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje - P.M. News}}{{Cite web|title=Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje (Jimi Agbaje) {{!}} Profile {{!}} Africa Confidential|url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/profile/id/4113/Jimi_Agbaje|website=www.africa-confidential.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}{{Cite web|date=2019-03-03|title=Jimi Agbaje's BIG IDEA: The 50% education deal|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/jimi-agbajes-big-idea-the-50-education-deal/|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}

Early life

Jimi Agbaje was born on 2 March 1957 to late Chief Julius Kosebinu Agbaje, a banker, and Margaret Olabisi, a schoolteacher.{{cite web|url=http://bunmiodunowo.com/4nl4-new-lagos-movement-endorses-jimi-agbaje-governor-come-2015|title=#4NL-4 New Lagos movement endorses Jimi Agbaje as Governor come 2015|work=bunmiodunowo.com|access-date=10 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211044907/http://bunmiodunowo.com/4nl4-new-lagos-movement-endorses-jimi-agbaje-governor-come-2015/|url-status=dead}} He is the second child of five children (two female and two male siblings) including Segun Agbaje, CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank.{{Cite web|title=Mr. Segun Agbaje – Chairman, Board of Directors|url=https://www.gtbankuk.com/about-gtbank-uk/our-people/mr-segun-agbaje-managing-directorceo/|website=Guaranty Trust Bank (UK) Limited|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-24}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Business career

In 1982, Jimi Agbaje founded his own company, JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Limited, and was managing director until 2005, when he decided to venture into politics.{{cite web|url=http://www.persecondnews.com/index.php/component/k2/item/2531-pdp-primary-jimi-agbaje-floors-obanikoro|title=PDP Primary: Jimi Agbaje floors Obanikoro|work=persecondnews.com|access-date=10 December 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210437/http://www.persecondnews.com/index.php/component/k2/item/2531-pdp-primary-jimi-agbaje-floors-obanikoro|url-status=dead}} A consummate professional, he was a member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (1999–2006); National Secretary of the Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (NAGPP) from 1987 to 1990; National Chairman NAGPP (1990–1993) and Chairman Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State; 1994–1997). He was a member, Lagos State Task Force on Fake and Adulterated Drugs (1989–1993), National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List (1986–1993) and Lagos Hospitals Management Board (1994–1997).

Jimi Agbaje sits on the board of other organizations including Oakwood Park Ltd., Atlantic Hall Secondary School (Epe, Lagos), and Jimi Agbaje Outreach (a foundation set up to help the poor) and has served as business mentor at Fate Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://www.vigeoholdings.com/jimi.htm|title=Board of Directors|accessdate=8 August 2023|work=vigeoholdings.com|archive-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303134218/http://vigeoholdings.com/jimi.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://paparazzipress.com.ng/cover/2015-agbaje-unsettles-lagos-as-apc-suffers-major-defections |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141210225515/http://paparazzipress.com.ng/cover/2015-agbaje-unsettles-lagos-as-apc-suffers-major-defections |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2014 |title=2015: AGBAJE UNSETTLES LAGOS.....as APC suffers major defections |work=paparazzipress.com.ng }}

Political life

In a 2013 interview with The Punch, Agbaje talked about how he began in politics: "It had to do with the Moshood Abiola presidential election", he said. "I saw the annulment as a personal insult and an assault on the Nigerian people. This led to my first entry into what I would call activism, working with other concerned professionals such as Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr Ayo Ighodaro, Asue Ighodalo, Billy Lawson, Oby Ezekwesili, Tola Mobolurin and Hassan Odukale."{{cite web|url=http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/politics-changed-my-dress-sense-jimi-agbaje |title=Politics changed my dress sense |work=punchng.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102003657/http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/politics-changed-my-dress-sense-jimi-agbaje/ |archivedate=2 November 2014 }}

Based on his affiliation with Afenifere, Jimi Agbaje joined the Action Congress (AC) – his first political party. In 2007, Agbaje who had initially aspired to contest for the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) left the party to join the Democratic People's Alliance (DPA).{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/cant-mole-bola-tinubu-apc-jimi-agbaje|title=I can't be mole for Bola Tinubu or APC – Jimi Agbaje|work=vanguardngr.com|date=14 October 2014}}

He was among the 11 aspirants that turned their back on the Action Congress (AC) when it was alleged that Governor Bola Tinubu had already secretly chosen someone else to succeed him even before the commencement of party primaries.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200702210162.html|title=Nigeria: How DPA Will Shock PDP, AC in Lagos – Agbaje|work=allafrica.com|accessdate=8 August 2023}}

In 2007, Agbaje contested in gubernatorial election on the Democratic People's Alliance (DPA) platform, but eventually, alongside other major contenders – Musiliu Obanikoro of PDP, Femi Pedro of Labour Party – lost to Babatunde Raji Fashola of the Action Congress (AC).{{cite web|url=http://www.thescoopng.com/femiowolabi-reports-went-omojuwa-moderated-conversation-jimiagbaje|title=Femi Owolabi reports on how it went down at the Omojuwa moderated conversation with Jimi Agbaje|work=thescoopng.com|accessdate=8 August 2023|archive-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701232909/http://www.thescoopng.com/femiowolabi-reports-went-omojuwa-moderated-conversation-jimiagbaje/|url-status=dead}}

He left the DPA in 2011 and went on to join the People's Democratic Party, PDP{{cite web|url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/11/joined-pdp-2011-not-2014-says-agbaje |title=I joined PDP in 2011 not 2014, says Agbaje |work=dailyindependentnig.com |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209195041/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/11/joined-pdp-2011-not-2014-says-agbaje/ |archivedate=9 February 2015 }} following the de-registration of DPA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).{{cite web|url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/110165-inec-deregisters-28-political-parties-okotie-balarabe-musa-affected.html|title=INEC deregisters 28 political parties, Okotie, Balarabe Musa affected|work=premiumtimes.ng.com|date=6 December 2012}}

On 29 October 2014, he officially indicated his interest in giving the Lagos State gubernatorial elections another shot by picking up the PDP nomination form.{{cite web|url=http://www.today.ng/politics/lagos-2015-jimi-agbaje-picks-up-pdp-nomination-form-says-apc-lacks-ideas |title=Lagos 2015: Jimi Agbaje picks up PDP nomination form, says APC lacks ideas |author=Olawale Kadir |work=today.ng |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210183822/http://www.today.ng/politics/lagos-2015-jimi-agbaje-picks-up-pdp-nomination-form-says-apc-lacks-ideas |archivedate=10 December 2014 }} On 8 December 2014, it was reported that he emerged as the candidate of the People's Democratic Party, PDP for the 2015 Lagos State gubernatorial election, having defeated Musiliu Obanikoro in the primary. Musiliu Obanikoro is the former Minister of State for Defence who is also a member of the opposition party, People's Democratic Party, PDP.{{cite web|url=http://citypeoplegroup.org/i/jimi-agbaje-emerges-lagos-pdp-guber-candidate/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141210123941/http://citypeoplegroup.org/i/jimi-agbaje-emerges-lagos-pdp-guber-candidate/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2014|title=Jimi Agbaje emerges Lagos PDP guber candidate|work=citypeoplegroup.org}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeriatell.com/news/breaking-news-jimi-agbaje-defeats-obanikoro-to-win-lagos-pdp-guber-primary|title=Nigeriatell.com|website=nigeriatell.com|accessdate=8 August 2023|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214111428/http://www.nigeriatell.com/news/breaking-news-jimi-agbaje-defeats-obanikoro-to-win-lagos-pdp-guber-primary|url-status=dead}}

In October 2018, Agbaje secured the PDP's ticket to run for the office of the governor of Lagos state. He defeated Adedeji Doherty to secure the ticket. Jimi Agbaje however lost to Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC, in the Lagos state gubernatorial election on 9 March 2019.{{Cite web|title=Sanwo-Olu defeats Agbaje in landslide victory to become new Lagos Governor|url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/sanwo-olu-beats-agbaje-to-become-new-lagos-governor/mw1pst4|date=10 March 2019|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=10 May 2020}}{{Cite journal|last=Gorman|first=Jessica|date=7 December 2002|title=Nanotube ID|journal=Science News|volume=162|issue=23|page=357|doi=10.2307/4013879|jstor=4013879|issn=0036-8423}}

Official duties

He has held various professional positions. Among others are:

National Secretary Nigerian Association of General Practice (1987–1990){{Cite web|title=Jimi Agbaje|url=https://thefutureafrica.com/staff/jimi-agbaje/|website=The Future Project|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-24}}
National Chairman of Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (1990–1993){{cite web|url=http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/politics-changed-my-dress-sense-jimi-agbaje/ |title=Politics changed my dress sense –Jimi Agbaje |work=The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102003657/http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/politics-changed-my-dress-sense-jimi-agbaje/ |archivedate=2 November 2014}}
Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (1994–1997)
Chairman of the 1994 National Conference Planning committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.{{Cite web|date=28 April 2016|title=Jimi Agbaje|url=https://www.biznisafrica.com/jimi-agbaje/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517101914/https://www.biznisafrica.com/jimi-agbaje/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=17 May 2021|access-date=17 May 2021|website=BizNis Africa|language=en-US}}

Awards and fellowships

Merit Award Winner (MAW), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State chapter){{cite web |last1=Isawande |first1=Isa |title=Countdown to 2019: Profile of the PDP Lagos governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje |url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/01/21/countdown-to-2019-profile-of-the-pdp-lagos-governorship-candidate-jimi-agbaje/ |website=PM nes |accessdate=23 January 2019}}
Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN)
Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm)

Personal life

Jimi is married to Abiola Agbaje (née Bankole), a lawyer. The couple were set to have met as students at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). They have three children.{{cite news |last1=Nwaokolo |first1=Sandra |title=Jimi Agbaje breaks silence on son's death, reveals burial date |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/jimi-agbaje-breaks-silence-on-sons-death-reveals-burial-date/ |access-date=5 November 2024 |work=Tribune Online |date=6 June 2024}}