It is no news that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has forwarded names of prospective members of his cabinet to the state House of Assembly for screening and subsequent approval.
Thegazellenews.com had earlier reported that Governor Sanwo-Olu on Friday, 28 July, 2023, forwarded names of the Commissioners-designate to the Assembly. In all, the Governor sent names of 39 prospective cabinet members who will later be designated Commissioners and Special Advisers to the Assembly for screening and subsequent approval.
This medium also reported that while some old members of the cabinet like Tokunbo Wahab, Gbenga Omotoso, Bisola Olusanya among others returned, some like Joe Igbokwe, Yetunde Arobieke and Rabiu Olowo among others were not so lucky.
New names, a mixture of known and not-so known politicians peopled the new list.
One name stands out: Barakat Bakare-Akande. Many may ask who is she?
Thegazellenews.com went in search of the profile of the young and beautiful female politician and our discovery was amazing.
Brilliant Barakat has really impressed in assignments given to her before this nomination to serve at the state level.
Thegazellenews.com discovered that Barakat has etched her name in the minds of both the old and the young in Surulere hence, many believed that she indeed deserves the nomination because it was based on merit.
This medium found out that Barakat is a deeply-rooted grassroots politician who enjoys not only the huge support of the female folks but also the males in Surulere since her sojourn into politics.
She was elected to represent Ward E1 in Surulere Local Government in 2017 and since then she has grown in leaps and bounds.
Her leadership qualities were never in doubt being elected the Leader of the Surulere Local Government Legislative Arm. When she was re-elected the councilor to represent the same Ward in 2021, she was equally re-elected to lead the council’s Legislative Arm again. This is unprecedented in the history of the Local Government.
She didn’t stopped there. Like a gold fish that has no hiding place, she was elected the Chairperson of Forum of Leaders of Legislative Arms in Lagos State and she delivered her assignments diligently and humbly.
Unprecedentedly, as the Leader of the Surulere Local Government Legislative Arm, Barakat has overseen the promulgation of about 27 bye laws, making the Surulere Local Government Legislative Arm arguably the most active in the state.
During her sojourn in the Surulere Local Government as a Councillor, the young female politician has empowered over 150 residents while she has a programme where she renders welfare and financial package to residents from 65 years of age and above. She has also instituted a programme for the empowerment of 10 residents of her ward with small scale business.
She’s a very deep-rooted grassroots politician who contested to represent Surulere State Constituency I in the last general election but was prevailed upon by the leaders of the party to shelve her ambition.
She was the Secretary of of Tinubu, Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu, Eshinlokun, Elliot Campaign Council (TGSEE) Campaign Council while also serving as the Director of the Directorate of Logistics for Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni (WES) Campaign Council.
Barakat combines beauty with brain and solid family background.
She is of the true royal blood: from Oshodi, Olorogun Adodo and Omosemo families of Lagos.
Born to Shamusudeen and Hania Kafilat Bakare, Barakat started and completed her primary education Mainland Preparatory Private School. From then, she studied briefly at Anglican Secondary School before completing her secondary education at Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry.
She studied and obtained her ‘A’ Level at College of North East London majoring in Law, History, Politics and Psychology.
She later earned her first Law degree in Law at University of Bedfordshire while also earning her Master’s degree also in Law from the same university. She’s a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, meaning she can practice Law in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Obviously, Barakat has come of age and the state Government and Governor Sanwo-Olu and Lagosians will be the ultimate beneficiares.
