Tunji-Ojo Olubunmi

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (born 1 May 1982) is a Nigerian engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and politician who is the current Minister of Interior of Nigeria. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State from 2019 to 2023.

During his first term in the House of Representatives, he was the chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). On 26 February 2023, he was re-elected as the federal lawmaker representing Akoko North East and North West Federal Constituency. However, he resigned his membership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly after being appointed by President Bola Tinubu as Minister of Interior on 16 August 2023. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, popularly called BTO, was born in Oyin Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.

He attended Ansarudeen Primary School, Oyin Akoko from 1987 to 1990 and Hakda International School in Kaduna from 1990 to 1992 before completing his primary education at Universal Primary School, Akure in 1993. He then proceeded to FUTA Staff Secondary School, Akure for his secondary education, where he was elected the senior prefect in 1998.

In 1999, he gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering. In 2002, while in his third year at the Obafemi Awolowo University, he proceeded to the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University) to study Electronics and Communication Engineering and graduated in 2005. He obtained a Post-Graduate Qualification in Digital Communication and Networking from the same institution in 2006.

He holds certifications in multiple professional qualifications in ICT, including being one of the first certified ethical hackers from Royal Britannia IT Training Academy in the UK before turning 24 years old. Before his political career, Tunji-Ojo was a business and management executive in ICT, serving as the CEO of Matrix IT Solutions Limited at age 24. He is also certified as a CompTIA Network Plus Engineer and holds a Britannia Hardware A+ Management Certificate.

As a professional, he consulted for the World Bank and various Nigerian government agencies, including the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), JAMB, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and others. In 2016, he pioneered the first Nigerian Content Workshop, bringing together stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to discuss improving indigenous participation.

In 2019, he was elected into the House of Representatives of Nigeria to represent Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency on the APC platform. He mobilized 246 lawmakers to support the speakership ambition of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. He was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and led a probe into alleged malfeasance amounting to over 80 billion Naira.

He was re-elected in February 2023 and resigned from the National Assembly after being appointed Minister of Interior by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration by Joseph Ayo Babalola University (2021) and holds several other prestigious awards.

As Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo has implemented reforms in immigration services, border security, paramilitary welfare, mining regulation, school security, and correctional facilities. His leadership includes promoting over 32,000 personnel, modernizing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and enhancing the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) through decongestion and facility renovations.

He has also streamlined the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), clearing over 200,000 passport applications and redesigning the passport renewal system for Nigerians in Europe and Canada. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Interior has deployed advanced biometric systems, commissioned new surveillance vehicles, and strengthened collaboration with other security agencies.

He has received numerous awards, including the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award, the Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award, and the National Assembly Best Legislator of the Year (2020, 2021). He is married to Abimbola Tunji-Ojo, also from Ondo State, and they have two children.