What You Didn’t Know About Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu CON SAN was a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as governor of Ondo State from 24 February 2017 until his death on 27 December 2023.

Akeredolu adopted the prefix “Arakunrin”, and nickname “Aketi”.
He was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2008 to 2010.

Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria.

Birth: Akeredolu was born Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, on 21 July 1956 in Owo to father, Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and mother, Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State.

Education:
Primary and secondary education: Akeredolu attended Government Primary School in Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College in Akure, Loyola College in Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.
University: University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he studied Law (LLB degree) in 1977, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.

All Ondo State Governors (Past and Present)

Known affectionately as Aketi, Akeredolu had a profound impact on the nation’s political climate. His public life trajectory includes advocacy, legal practice, serving as president of the Nigerian Bar Association, and winning two terms as governor of Ondo State.

Aketi was a Christian with a Chapel of Epiphany dedicated at his Owo residence, he was also a Chancellor of the Cathedral of St. Andrews Church, Owo.

He served as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Bar Association Ibadan branch from 1985-1986, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2008 to 2010.

Akeredolu was Ondo State’s attorney general from 1997 to 1999, was appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1998, and from 2005 to 2006, he presided over the Legal Aid Council as its chairman.

Akeredolu also served as the Vice Chairman of the Ibadan branch of the NBA in 1991 and Chairman from 1992 to 1994 and was awarded the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger in October 2022.

Rotimi Akeredolu died on the morning of Wednesday, December 27th, 2023, at age 67, after a protracted battle with leukemia and prostate cancer.