By Lukman OMIKUNLE
From journalism and business leadership to political strategy, Lateefat Sowunmi Kolapo emerges as Ogun PDP’s deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election alongside Oladipupo Adebutu
Who is Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo? The Media Powerhouse Now Eyeing Ogun Government House
The emergence of Alhaja Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo as the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election has thrust one of Nigeria’s most accomplished media executives and business leaders into the centre of the state’s political conversation ahead of what is already shaping up to be a fiercely contested governorship race.
Alhaja Kolapo will run alongside the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, popularly known as Lado, as the opposition party seeks to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Her selection has generated widespread interest across political, media and business circles, with supporters describing her as a strategic asset whose extensive experience in communications, public affairs, governance and enterprise could strengthen the PDP’s campaign heading into the crucial election.
Widely regarded as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s media industry, Alhaja Kolapo brings more than 26 years of experience spanning journalism, corporate communications, public affairs, business development, training, editing and strategic narrative management. Throughout her professional career, she has built a reputation for excellence, innovation and leadership, earning recognition for her role in driving the growth and transformation of major organisations while shaping public discourse through impactful journalism and strategic communication.
A proud daughter of Ijemo in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Kolapo is deeply rooted in Egbaland through both her paternal and maternal heritage. Her father holds the revered titles of Baba Adinni of Ijemo and Baba Isale of Egba Muslims, while her late mother hailed from the respected Bakenne family of Ijemo. These strong cultural and community ties have remained a defining aspect of her identity and public service engagements.
Her influence in the media sector is both extensive and groundbreaking. She is the Founder and Group Managing Director of Right Dev Limited, a strategic communications and media consultancy established in 2015, and serves as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Point Newspaper, a nationally circulated publication that has maintained consistent operations for more than a decade. She also oversees Growth Trackers Initiative television productions across 12 states of the federation, further expanding her footprint in media and development advocacy.
Kolapo’s record includes several pioneering achievements. She served as President of the Media Transformation and Empowerment Initiative (MTEI) and made history as the first female Group Business Editor of Punch Newspapers, one of Nigeria’s most influential media organisations. Over the course of her journalism career, she has authored more than 5,000 published articles and mentored numerous award-winning journalists. Her widely read Monday Compass column became a notable platform for economic, political and social commentary, cementing her standing as a respected voice in the Nigerian media landscape.
Her expertise also extends to public service. During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, she served as Special Adviser on Corporate Communications and Strategy to former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga. In that role, she played a pivotal part in the rebranding of the former Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry into the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. She also developed communication frameworks for the ministry’s 17 parastatals, creating standards that have continued to influence institutional communication practices years later.
Kolapo’s political journey reflects a blend of grassroots engagement and national leadership. She joined active partisan politics through the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2018 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement. She went on to become the first female Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party before making history again as the first female National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, a position she held until October 2020. Her experience in political communication, democratic governance, public accountability and citizen engagement has since made her a familiar figure in national political conversations.
Beyond politics and public affairs, she is also an accomplished author and recipient of numerous honours. Her book, The Making of an Oracle, published in 2013, added another dimension to her professional accomplishments. Over the years, she has received several prestigious awards, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Media Icon Award, the NUJ Most Supportive Personality for Media Welfare Award, the Ambassador of Nigerian Women Journalists Award and the NUJ Award for Proactive Media Management.
Her academic and professional credentials further underscore the depth of her experience. Kolapo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Econometrics from the University of Lagos. A former Federal Government Scholar, she is an alumna of Lagos Business School and Michigan State University’s Responsible Governance Programme. She is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, a Fellow of the West Africa School of Communication and Development, a Fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration, and an Honorary Doctorate Fellow of the Institute of Public Sector Management in the United Kingdom. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Management.
Outside the boardroom and political arena, Kolapo is widely recognised for her philanthropy and faith-based community service. She founded the Samabs Foundation, a grassroots empowerment initiative established in memory of her late mother, through which she has supported vulnerable individuals and community development projects. Her contributions to Islamic and community leadership have earned her several distinguished titles, including Zeenatul Quaddriyyah of Nigeria, Ameerah Musulumi of Ijemoland, Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and the first Ameerah General of Ogun State.
Having travelled to more than 30 countries across six continents, Kolapo brings a broad international outlook to governance, leadership and development issues. Her supporters argue that this global exposure, combined with her rich experience in media, business, governance and public engagement, positions her as a formidable force in Ogun State politics.
As the countdown to the 2027 governorship election gathers momentum, the profile of Lateefat Sowunmi Kolapo suggests that the PDP ticket is not merely presenting a deputy governorship candidate, but a seasoned strategist, accomplished professional and influential public figure whose entry into the race could reshape political calculations across Ogun State.
