Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje (popularly known as Jimi Agbaje JK;
born March 2, 1957), is a Nigerian Pharmacist , Politician
and the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 gubernatorial election.
Early life
He was born on March 2, 1957 in Lagos State, Nigeria to
late Chief Julius Kosebinu (Banker) and Mrs. Margaret
Olabisi (teacher) Agbaje. He is the second born and first
male child of five children (two female and two male
siblings).
Business career
In 1982, Jimi Agbaje founded his own company, JAYKAY
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Limited and was
Managing Director until 2005 when he decided to venture
into politics. A consummate professional, he was a
member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (1999 –
2006); National Secretary of the Nigerian Association of
General Practice Pharmacists (NAGPP) from 1987 – 1990;
National Chairman NAGPP (1990 – 1993) and Chairman
Pharmaceutical society of Nigeria Lagos State (1994 –
1997). He was a member, Lagos State Task force on Fake
and Adulterated Drugs (1989 – 1993), National Drug
Formulary and Essential Drugs List (1986 – 1993) and
Lagos Hospitals Management Board (1994 – 1997). Jimi
Agbaje also sits on the Board of other organizations
including Oakwood Park Ltd, Atlantic Hall Secondary School
Epe, Jimi Agbaje Outreach (a project dedicated to helping
the less fortunate) and has served as business mentor at
Fate Foundation
Political Life
In a 2013 interview with The Punch Newspaper, Agbaje
talked about how he began in politics: “It had to do with the
Moshood Abiola /Bashir Tofa presidential election", he said.
"I saw the annulment as a personal insult and an assault on
the Nigerian people. This led to my first entry into what I
would call activism, working with other concerned
professionals" such as Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr Ayo Ighodaro,
Asue Ighodalo, Billy Lawson, Oby Ezekwesili, Tola Mobolurin
and Hassan Odukale. Jimi was in one form of
resistance group or the other which ultimately led him to
join the socio-political organization, Afenifere where he
served as national treasurer.
Based on his affiliation with Afenifere , Jimi Agbaje joined the
Action Congress (AC) - his first political party. In 2007,
Agbaje who had initially aspired to contest for the Governor
of Lagos State on the platform of the Action Congress (AC)
left the party to join the Democratic People's Alliance
(DPA).He was among the 11 aspirants that turned their
back to the Action Congress (AC) when it was alleged that
Governor Bola Tinubu had already anointed someone else to
succeed him even before the party primaries. Widely
believed to have conducted the best campaign in 2007,
Agbaje contested in gubernatorial election on the
Democratic People's Alliance (DPA) platform, but eventually,
alongside other major contenders - Musiliu Obanikoro of
PDP, Femi Pedro of Labour Party (Nigeria) - lost to
Babatunde Raji Fashola of the Action Congress (AC).
He left DPA in 2011 and went on to join the ruling party, the
People's Democratic Party, PDP following the de-
registration of DPA by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC). On October 29, 2014, he officially
indicated his interest in giving the Lagos State gubernatorial
elections another shot by picking up the PDP nomination
form. On 8 December 2014, it was reported that he
emerged as the candidate of the People's Democratic Party,
PDP for the 2015 Lagos State gubernatorial election, having
defeated Musiliu Obanikoro in the primary. Musiliu
Obanikoro is the former Minister of State for Defence who is
also a member of the ruling party, People's Democratic
Party, PDP .
Official Duties
He has held various professional positions. Among others
are:
National Secretary Nigerian Association of General
Practice (1987-1990)
National Chairman of Nigerian Association of General
Practice Pharmacists (1990 – 1993)
Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (1994
– 1997)
Chairman of the 1994 National Conference Planning
committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
Awards and fellowships
Merit Award Winner (MAW), Pharmaceutical Society of
Nigeria (Lagos State chapter).
Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN)
Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of
Pharmacists (FPCPharm)
Personal life
He is married to Abiola Agbaje (née Bankole), a lawyer. The
couple met as students at the University of Ife, now
Obafemi Awolowo University and dated for eight years
before getting married. They have three children.