Olumide Akpata Biography
Olumide Akpata is a prominent Nigerian legal practitioner and politician. He was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2020 to 2022, and the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria to hold that position in 28 years.
He is also a senior partner and former head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm. He is currently a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party for the 2024 Edo State elections.
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about Olumide Akpata, his early life, Education, political career, wife, family and more.
Olumide Akpata Age
Olumide Akpata is 51 years old as of 2024.
Olumide Akpata State Of Origin
Olumide Akpata hails from Edo State, Nigeria.
Olumide Akpata Early Life and Education
Akpata was born on October 7, 1972, in Edo State, Nigeria. He had his early education in Warri, Delta State, where he developed an interest in law and justice. He later attended King’s College, Lagos, one of the most prestigious secondary schools in the country, where he excelled academically and socially.
In 1988, he gained admission to study law at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1992. He was a brilliant and diligent student who participated in various academic and extracurricular activities. He was also a leader who served as the president of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) in his final year. He was passionate about the legal profession and its role in advancing the society.
After graduating from UNIBEN, he was called to the Nigerian Bar on December 15, 1993, following a successful completion of the mandatory one-year training at the Nigerian Law School.
He then proceeded to serve in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State, where he had the opportunity to experience a different culture and legal system. He also learned valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and patriotism.
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Olumide Akpata Career
Olumide Akpata is a renowned Nigerian legal practitioner and politician who served as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from 2020 to 2022. He is also a senior partner and former head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm, and a gubernatorial aspirant for the 2024 Edo State elections.
Akpata began his legal career in Delta state under the mentorship of Dr. Mudiaga Odje, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), OFR, who was one of the most experienced litigators of his time. He learned a lot from his mentor, who exposed him to various aspects of litigation and advocacy.
In 1996, Akpata made the move to Lagos and partnered with his cousin, Oghogho Akpata, who had recently established the law firm Templars the year before. Joining the firm at the age of 23, Akpata played a pivotal role in its establishment and growth. Today, Templars stands as one of the largest law firms in Nigeria, boasting a team of approximately 100 lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, each adept in various areas of Nigerian law.
Currently serving as a senior partner and former head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars, Akpata has been instrumental in numerous groundbreaking transactions that have significantly influenced commercial law practice in Nigeria and have had a profound impact on the Nigerian economy as a whole.
He has advised on the restructuring and unbundling of the state-owned power monopoly, National Electric Power Authority; the acquisition of the National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria by a group of Nigerian investors; the deployment of Google Street View in Nigeria; and the merger between Access Bank and Diamond Bank to create one of the largest lenders in Nigeria.
Akpata was also the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) from 2016 to 2018. Under his leadership, the NBA-SBL organized several conferences, workshops, and trainings to enhance the capacity and competence of business lawyers in Nigeria. He also initiated several reforms and innovations to improve the quality and standards of legal services in the country.
On July 30, 2020, Akpata made history as the first non-SAN in 28 years to be elected as the president of the NBA, defeating two SANs in a landslide victory. He polled 9,891 votes of the total 18,256 ballots cast, representing 54.3% of the votes. His election was widely celebrated as a victory for democracy, merit, and inclusiveness in the legal profession.
Olumide Akpata Personal Life, Wife and Children
Olumide Akpata is married to Osayamon Michelle Ogbebor, a lawyer and a London graduate. She hails from the esteemed Ogbebor family of the Bini Kingdom in Edo State. They dated for a long time before tying the knot.
Akpata has four children from his previous marriage: Joseph, Olumide, Omowunmi and Omolade. He is also a cousin of Oghogho Akpata, who founded Templars law firm with him.
He has vitiligo, a condition that causes loss of skin color in patches. He is a devout Christian and a member of the Labour Party. He enjoys reading, travelling, and playing chess.
Olumide Akpata Net Worth
Olumide Akpata has an estimated net worth of $1 million. He is a successful lawyer and politician who has participated in many high-profile transactions and cases in Nigeria.
Olumide Akpata Social Media handles
Olumide Akpata is active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You can follow him on these handles:
- Twitter: @OlumideAkpata
- LinkedIn: Olumide Akpata
- Facebook: Olumide Akpata
