Babajimi Adegoke Benson is a Nigerian politician and member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State. He has become a leading light from the area after acquiring several years of experience in the public and private sector. He stands tall as one of Ikorodu finest with a proven track record in public administration.
Who is Jimi Benson?
Babajimi Adegoke Benson was born March 30, 1972 into the illustrious and renowned Benson family of Ikorodu in Lagos. The strides and achievements of Jimi Benson, who has distinguished himself as a dignitary and added class to the Benson name, is not surprising to many, who know his grand uncle and one of Lagos finest, late Theophilus Owolabi Shobowale Benson.
He had his early education in Ikorodu before proceeding to Lagos State University to study law, graduating in 1994 with an LLB. He holds an MBA (Masters of Business Administration) from Warwick Business School (UK); LLM in Comparative International Business Law (Merit) from London Guildhall University; Bachelor of Law (Honours) of the Nigerian Law School and he is a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.
Public and Private sector achievements
Benson enjoys a career progression that has taken him through both the private and public sector of the nation’s economy. He is an experienced senior boardroom executive and legal practitioner.
He has vast experience in working collaboratively with Senior Executives to review performance, develop strategic plans and shape overall future direction of government policies and action.
He is also equipped to lead due diligence, bid tender evaluations, investment appraisals and rigorous selection processes aligned to specific Lagos State guidelines for awarding development and PPP contracts.
Before his election into the Nigerian House of Representatives he was the Company Secretary/ General Counsel at the Lagos State Development & Property Corporation (LSDPC) and was also a Non-Executive Director of the Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, Nigeria.
Between 2003 and 2004, he was the Deputy Manager, Legal, at Lead Bank PLC. Before then, he worked as Legal Counsel at Ecobank PLC. He also worked as a Legal officer, General Counsel Division, at the United Nations HQ, New York between 2000 and 2001. Earlier, he served as Legal Officer in the law office of Babatunde Benson (SAN).
JB the legislator
JB, as Benson is fondly called, journey as a legislator kicked off nine years ago as a member of the National Assembly, representing Ikorodu federal constituency at the House of Representatives. His strong desire to serve his people had him venturing into full-time politics, and in 2015 he was elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent his constituency at the green chamber.
Currently, serving his another term, Benson is one of the very few lawmakers that have demonstrated laudable leadership and political responsibility in the discharge of his legislative duties. He served in several key committees of the House in the 8th and 9th Assembly. These include Chairman, House Committee on Banking and Finance, Chairman, Sub-Committee on Habitat, Deputy Chairman, Committee on Delegated Legislation and member of Committees on Works, Justice, Housing, Environment, Treaties and Protocol, and House Committee on Defence.
Benson, through bills and motions, have canvassed ways to aid the security agents in carrying out their duties more efficiently and effectively in the fight against insecurity. One of such efforts towards enhancing defence capabilities, led him to sponsoring a Bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Armed Forces Support Fund.
As an advocate of women inclusion in political and other leadership positions, Benson who has been a member of the House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee since the 8th Assembly, was among the lawmakers who voted in favour and as well appealed to his colleagues to vote in favour of gender bills during the recent voting on the constitution amendments.
Some Bills sponsored by him include: “the Good Samaritan Bill seeking to provide legal protection for First responders who render help to victims of accidents or in emergency situations, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2020, which seeks to address the need for defined periodic population census in Nigeria, A bill seeking to amend the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to authorize host communities where electricity is generated to be entitled to a percentage of profits from Generating companies. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2020 which seeks to alter the minimum educational qualification for aspirants into political office and National Icons, Symbols Legacy Agency Bill, 2020, to allow for more coordinated and robust management of our national symbols, A Bill for an Act to Amend the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Foster Collaboration Between the Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies in the Provision of National Security and Establish the Armed Forces Human Rights Unit to Provide a Reporting Channel for Civilians Whose Human Rights are Violated by Members of Armed Forces; Bill to Reserve five per cent of GENCOs Revenues for Host Communities, Bill to Specify Time Frame for Conduct of Census.
Benson also sponsored the motion to commemorate the World Teachers Day and celebration of Nigerian Teachers, where the Best Teacher in Nigeria 2019, Mrs. Agnes Elusakin of Oriwu College, Ikorodu was honoured by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and members of the House.
How Jimi Benson won Ikorodu hearts with constituency development
On constituency development, Benson endeared himself to his constituents as the ‘People’s Representative’ with his grassroots drive. He has attracted several projects to Ikorodu and even launched the iCare Foundation, food bank, Startup Ikorodu and Back to School among other initiatives.
The Food Bank idea was conceptualised to cater for the aged, widows, needy and vulnerable as a means to cushion the effect of economic recession on the people.
In order to ensure effective communication is passed to his constituents, Benson set up a community radio in his Ikorodu constituency, IKD 106.1FM.
One of his most loved constituency projects is the donation of an 80-bed Mother and Child Hospital to Imota. He has also used his position at several stages of his career to secure employment for a large number of his constituents both directly and via recommendations.
