Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s tenure as Minister of Interior has significantly bolstered the public perception of Nigerian youth in leadership roles. His effective management of the ministry demonstrates that young professionals can deliver substantial results when entrusted with authority. Many observers now view him as an ideal candidate to lead development efforts in his home state of Ondo.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tunji-Ojo transitioned to his ministerial role in August 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His portfolio includes the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Fire Service. Since taking office, he has prioritized technological innovation, including the launch of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex.
His reforms have yielded tangible benefits, such as digitizing the passport application process, clearing long-standing backlogs, and implementing an e-Gate system at airports. For citizens abroad, he introduced a contactless passport renewal service that has expanded from Canada to Europe. Furthermore, he has addressed prison overcrowding by securing the release of inmates incarcerated for minor offenses through fine payments.
In the realm of security, the minister has upgraded border surveillance by deploying new patrol vehicles and establishing a sophisticated Command and Control Centre in Abuja. Before his political career, he was a successful ICT executive and entrepreneur, holding certifications in ethical hacking and network engineering. These professional credentials, combined with his legislative history as the former chairman of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission, have earned him various accolades, including multiple leadership awards throughout his career.
