As political permutations ahead of the next Lagos governorship race gather momentum, attention is increasingly turning to Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, a technocrat, strategist and insider whose journey through power, policy and pedigree positions him as a formidable contender.
Here are 20 astonishing facts about the man many see as a potential successor in Africa’s most strategic city.
1. Hamzat was born on 19 September, 1964
2. He is the son of a king and political heavyweight, late Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, who was both a legislator and commissioner before becoming a monarch.
3. Hamzat combines royalty and politics, giving him deep roots in Lagos’ traditional and political structures.
4. He is widely seen as part of the inner technocratic circle that has shaped Lagos governance for decades.
5. Hamzat holds a PhD in System Process Engineering from Cranfield University, UK, an uncommon level of academic depth in Nigerian politics.
6. He earned both his first degree and master’s in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan.
7. His academic journey places him among the most technically grounded politicians in Lagos leadership history.
8. Before politics, he worked in top global institutions including: Columbia University, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.
9. Hamzat also served as Chief Information Officer at Oando Plc, a major Nigerian energy company.
10. As Commissioner for Science and Technology under Bola Ahmed Tinubu and later Babatunde Fashola, he digitised government operations.
11. He played a key role in eliminating ghost workers through data-driven systems.
12. He helped transform Lagos into a technology-driven “mega-city” governance model.
13. He is one of the architects behind Lagos’ modern administrative efficiency.
14. In 2018, he stepped down from the governorship race to support Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
That decision earned him the Deputy Governor slot, showing strong party loyalty and strategic discipline. This move is often seen as a calculated path to future leadership.
15. He has been Deputy Governor of Lagos State since 2019, serving at the heart of Nigeria’s most economically powerful state. Lagos, as Africa’s largest city economy, makes his role one of the most influential deputy governorship positions in Nigeria.
16. He has served as Special Adviser on Works at the federal level, linking him to national infrastructure planning. His experience cuts across state and federal policy execution, giving him a broad governance perspective.
17. Hamzat won the Lagos State Man of the Year Award (2013), a major recognition of his impact.
18. He is regarded as a quiet but highly influential policymaker, often working behind the scenes.
19. Hamzat combines royal lineage, elite education, corporate pedigree, and political experience.
20. He is deeply embedded in the Tinubu political structure and is seen as a continuity candidate for Lagos technocratic governance. Has long-term strategic patience, a key trait in Lagos politics