The Interior Minister's accomplishments have cast young people in a favorable light

Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has made significant strides in his ministry over the last three years, thereby creating a positive image for youths in the country and demonstrating their ability to excel when given responsibility.

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His outstanding performance has instilled hope in many that youths can successfully lead and rule the country, with many believing he is the most suitable person to facilitate the development of Ondo State, his home state.

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As a Nigerian engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and politician, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has had a distinguished career, serving as a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State from 2019 to 2023.

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He was appointed Minister of Interior by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023, overseeing key agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Federal Fire Service.

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The Minister has been recognized for introducing vital reforms, including the digitization of the passport application process, deployment of airport e-Gates, and initiatives to clear extensive passport backlogs, which have been highly beneficial.

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He has also pioneered major decongestion efforts at correctional centres by spearheading programmes that paid fines to release thousands of inmates held for petty offences, alongside modernizing facilities.

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Furthermore, Hon Tunji-Ojo has focused on integrating intelligence data, enhancing border security, and using the NSCDC to protect critical national infrastructure, particularly in the area of Border and Asset Security.

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During his first term in the House of Representatives, he chaired the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, and on 26 February 2023, he was re-elected as the federal lawmaker representing Akoko North East and North West Federal Constituency.

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However, he resigned his membership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly after being appointed Minister of Interior by President Bola Tinubu on 16 August 2023.

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Before entering politics, Tunji-Ojo had a successful career in ICT, becoming the CEO of Matrix IT Solutions Limited, a leading indigenous ICT consultant company in Nigeria, at the age of 24, and holds certifications in Ethical Hacking and Counter Measures, as well as being a certified CompTIA Network Plus Engineer and a Britannia Hardware A+ Management Certificate Holder.

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The introduction of a contactless passport renewal system for Nigerians living in Europe has been well-received by Nigerians in the diaspora, allowing eligible individuals to renew their passports online without visiting any physical office, following the successful rollout of the initiative in Canada.

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The Minister has played a significant role in fighting insecurity in the country, with 30 new patrol vehicles commissioned to strengthen border surveillance, and a new Command and Control Centre, housing a 1.4 petabyte-capacity data center, constructed at the Nigerian Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja.

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The Ministry has also activated the role of Document Verification Officers to authenticate passport applicants from their local government areas, highlighting the Minister's focus on technological advancement.

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This focus culminated in the commissioning of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex on 11 December 2024, which houses the NIS Command and Control Center, ECOWAS Biometric Card Production Centre, the Interior Data Centre, the Visa Application Centre, and a solar farm.

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Dr Tunji-Ojo's efforts and achievements have earned him numerous awards, including being named amongst the 30 most influential young Nigerians by the National Youth Council of Nigeria in 2019, and receiving the Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award of Excellence in 2019.

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He was also awarded the Pacesetter in Political Representation by Akoko North West Local Government Council in 2019, and the National Assembly Best Legislator of the year in 2020 and 2021, as well as the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award as “Worthy Ambassador of African 2010 Youth” by All African Students Union.