Tinubu’s ministerial nominee: Profile of Festus Egwarewa Keyamo

Festus Egwarewa Keyamo, SAN FCIArb, is a prominent Nigerian lawyer, columnist, and human rights activist. Born on January 21, 1970, in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria, he hails from Effurun, Delta. He completed his primary education at Model Primary School and secondary education at Government College, Ughelli, obtaining the West African School Certificate in 1986. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor of Law degree from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 1992, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1993.

Keyamo began his legal career at Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers in Lagos before establishing his own law firm, Festus Keyamo Chambers. He has been involved in several high-profile cases, including representing Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force, and acting as lead counsel in the treason trial of Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement For The Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). He was also a counsel in the murder trial of Bola Ige.

In 2008, Keyamo took the Federal Government of Nigeria to court over illegal appointments of service chiefs. He has been active in advocating for human rights and holding governments accountable, receiving recognition for his efforts. In 2017, he was named a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) and awarded the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council in Washington for his dedication to human rights protection and promoting accountable governance in Nigeria.

Keyamo has been actively involved in politics and served as the director of Strategic Communications for President Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid. In 2019, he was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State for Niger Delta before being redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment by President Buhari.

His contributions and achievements have not gone unnoticed, and in 2023, he was among the recipients of the national award bestowed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Festus Keyamo remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape, advocating for justice, human rights, and accountability in governance.