In a historic moment for Lagos State, Mojisola Meranda, from the Apapa 1 state constituency, has been elected as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Assembly.

On Monday, following a plenary session that resulted in the impeachment of former speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Meranda proceeded to take her oath of office.

In the meantime, security personnel apprehended several individuals attempting to breach the complex and promptly placed them in a waiting Black Maria, a vehicle commonly used for transporting prisoners.

Mojisola Meranda takes oath

Taking her oath of office, Meranda said: “I affirm that I will be faithful as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly;

“That I will perform my functions honestly to the best of my ability, faithfully, and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Things to know about Mojisola Meranda

1. Between 2007 and 2008, Mrs. Meranda worked in the oil and gas industry with Cirrus Nigeria Limited as a procurement manager.
2. She returned to politics in 2008, taking active roles in the Apapa Local Government, first as a Senior Special Assistant on Intervention and Intergovernmental Affairs to the then Chairman, Ayodeji Joseph—the Supervisory Councillor for Health.
3. In 2014, she joined Worthline International Services Limited as head of operations.
4. In 2015, she was elected as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Apapa constituency 1.
5. The lawmaker is an advocate of gender equality and has called for women to be allowed fair and full representation, especially in political circles.
6. Mojisola Meranda believes there is a need for a massive reorientation that women are on “the same level” with men, especially in politics.
7. Meranda holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).