Babafemi Badejo is a Nigerian academic, writer[1] and diplomat.[2]

Early life and education

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Badejo was born on 4 March 1955, in Ijebu Ode[3] He attended Saint Saviours Primary School, Italowajoda, Ijebu Ode and Baptist Primary School, Ereko, Ijebu Ode. He finished at Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu Ode before proceeding to the University of Lagos in 1973 for his first degree in political science. He completed his Ph.D. in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA), US in 1982[4] and later LL.B., Bachelor of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria. January 1990. He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 12 December 1990.[5]

Life and Career

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Badejo married Adejumoke Odusanya on 9 September 1977, and they have three daughters, a son and grandchildren. They jointly set up Yintab Private Academy, providing education from Crèche to Senior Secondary School.[6] Badejo's interest in the game of chess, led to the sponsorship of the Femi Badejo National Chess Tournament in 2002, by the Femi Badejo Foundation in conjunction with the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF)[7]

On 2 October 1991, the Minister of External Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved his participation in the 46th Session of the UN General Assembly as Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his bid for the position of the UN Secretary General.[8][9]

He formally left his academic career at the University of Lagos in 1996 for a career in peace operations at the United Nations, from which he retired on 31 March 2017. He served in many conflict areas, including Somalia, Liberia,[10] Guinea-Bissau and Darfur Sudan. During an 11 years stay in Nairobi, Kenya at the UN Political Office for Somalia,[11] he was appointed Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, (DSRSG) for Somalia.[12][13]

Upon his retirement from the UN, he founded and headed Yintab Strategy Consults (YSC) in April 2017. In this capacity, he has played a key role for the African Union (AU). African Union) and the Addis Ababa branch of the United Nations Development Program (UNECA). Here, he worked the operationalization of the African Union Humanitarian Agency[14] as well as the Four-pillar Interlinkages for West and Central Africa in a consultancy for the UN ECA.[15]

He served as an adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain from 2018-2020[16] and in those years, served on the Bahraini delegation to the UN General Assembly.[16] He currently advises His Excellency, Jose Ramos-Horta, and the President of Leste-Timorese on relations with Africa.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Listnerd (20 February 2014). "Most famous Writers from Nigeria". Rankly. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. ^ Nyaknno, Osso (28 November 2016). "BADEJO, Dr. Babafemi". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation Nigeria Blerf's WHO'S WHO IN NIGERIA (Online). Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  3. ^ Ephraim, Solutions (4 March 2018). "Celebrate Dr. Babafemi Badejo on His Birthday". Ephraim Solutions Entertainment Blog. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. ^ Crouch, Winston (June 1987). A History of the Department of Political Science University of California, Los Angeles 1920-1987. Available online: Department of Political Science, Los Angeles. p. 79.
  5. ^ Unini, Chioma (3 July 2020). "Chief Babafemi A. Badejo (Ph.D) Member NBA Lagos Applauds and Endorses Joyce Oduah, FICMC for Speaking out against Corruption in Nigeria". The Nigerian Lawyers. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Yintab Private Academy, Ikorodu". Educliq. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  7. ^ George, Akpayen (9 August 2002). "Nigeria: Femi Badejo Chess Cup". AllAfrica. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  8. ^ Olusegun, Obasanjo (2014). My Watch; Early Life and the Military. OOPL: Kachifo Limited Prestige imprint. pp. 369–378. ISBN 978-978-53163-0-8.
  9. ^ Tolulope, Ogunwobi (14 July 2008). "Chess and the Nigerian Child: Challenges and Prospects". Chess Heights Media. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  10. ^ United Nations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations (2010). Second Generation Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Practices in Peace Operations. A Contribution to the New Horizon Discussion on Challenges and Opportunities for UN Peacekeeping. United Nations. p. 67.
  11. ^ The Humanitarian (1 August 2005). "UN envoy to facilitate dialogue within divided gov't". The Humanitarian. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  12. ^ United Nations News (7 November 2005). "UN Condemns assassination attempt on Somali Prime Minister". UN News. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  13. ^ Voice of America Archive (31 October 2009). "Somali Officials Discuss Relocation of Government". VOA Archive. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  14. ^ Babafemi, Badejo (21 October 2019). "DRAFT A STUDY ON THE MODALITIES FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE AFRICAN HUMANITARIAN AGENCY" (PDF). African Union.
  15. ^ United Nations, Economic Commissions for Africa (January 2022). "Interlinkages between the development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian pillars in West and Central Africa" (PDF). UNECA. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b United Nations (7 October 2022). "SHORT BIOS Panellists for the Nexus Webinar on Friday 7 October 2022" (PDF).
  17. ^ www.premiumtimesng.com https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/535577-hope-in-timor-leste-musings-from-the-2022-presidential-inauguration-by-babafemi-a-badejo.html?tztc=1. Retrieved 5 October 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)