Gbenga Olawepo Hashim

Gbenga Toyosi Olawepo was born on 28 June 1969 in Yelwa, Yauri (now Kebbi State), Northern Nigeria. His early leadership qualities emerged during high school, where he became President of the Dramatic Society and later Health Prefect at Cherubim and Seraphim College, Ilorin.

In 1984, Olawepo joined Kwara College of Technology as General-Secretary of the Youth Solidarity on Southern Africa in Nigeria (YUSSAN). His activism deepened with involvement in anti-apartheid movements, organizing film screenings and collecting signatures to mobilize support against South African apartheid while also providing solidarity for Angola, Mozambique, and Namibia.

As a member of the Local Organising Committee for the ‘Massive Freedom at 70 Nelson Mandela Concert’ at University Lagos, Olawepo’s radicalism intensified when he was elected Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 1988. Despite the military government’s ban on student organizations, he spoke out against freedom violations and advocated for democratic rule through a constituent assembly.

In May–June 1989, Olawepo led anti-SAP pro-democracy protests nationwide, alongside simultaneous global uprisings like Tiananmen Square. The military responded with force, detaining him under the Detention of Persons Decree No.2 for four months in solitary confinement. His case became a landmark legal victory after Amnesty International declared him a ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ and international campaigns pressured for his release.

After graduation from University Lagos in 1989, Olawepo faced immediate challenges—military authorities seized his degree certificate, blocking his professional opportunities. Undeterred, he shifted to private business, leveraging skills in political communication by founding ‘Setandsell Ltd.’, bypassing regulatory barriers imposed by the Advertising Practitioners Council and Public Relations laws.

Olawepo’s entrepreneurial spirit expanded into global energy sector ventures across Europe, America, and Africa. His career transitioned into partisan politics in 1995 when he became National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Democratic Labour Party (NDLP) during Abacha’s regime. Though his party was denied registration, he aligned with anti-Abacha forces, later aiding the formation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

A key figure in PDP’s early years, Olawepo contributed intellectually and financially to its founding, including drafting the party’s constitution within days. He served as Deputy National Publicity Secretary from 1999–2007, advocating for transparency and internal democracy despite tensions with executive leadership. His principled stance led to a protracted court battle over tenure disputes, culminating in his temporary removal but eventual reinstatement.

After leaving PDP amid party crises, Olawepo entered opposition politics by contesting as the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) governorship candidate in Kwara State in 2007. Though declared runner-up, he challenged election results unsuccessfully. He later pursued education abroad at University of Buckingham, where he earned a Max Bellof Scholarship for academic excellence.

Olawepo’s political career resumed with third-party bids: he ran as the People’s Trust presidential possible contender in 2019 against Buhari (APC) and Abukakar (PDP). His recognitions include the Kwame Nkrumah African Leadership Award (2003), Veteran Award by the International Union of Students (2005), and a Nigerian Union of Journalists’ Professional Excellence Award. He has held roles in constitutional review committees, international delegations, and charity works.

Critics have noted his association with former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida during detention and accused him of idealism over pragmatism in Nigerian politics. Despite controversies, Olawepo remains a self-made political figure known for integrity, courage, and a commitment to democratic ideals.