Olusegun Awolowo Jr. was born on September 27, 1963. At the age of 25, his father, Segun Awolowo Sr. died in an automobile accident on the old Ibadan–Lagos highway. His father passed away two months before he was born. Olusegun, a lawyer from Nigeria, served as the organization’s executive director from 2013 to 2021. He is Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s grandson, a former socialist, nationalist, and statesman of Nigeria.
He began his studies at the Mayhill Convent School with Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the former vice president Yemi Osinbajo. After that, he continued on to Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos State for his secondary schooling, and then finished at Government College in Ibadan. After completing his secondary schooling, he continued on to Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago Iwoye, where he earned an LLB degree.
Following his call to bar in December 1989, Awolowo practised law with the firms of GOK Ajayi & Co. and Abayomi Sogbesan & Co. He worked as a Special Assistant on Traditional Institutions, Legal Due Diligence, and Legal Matters during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
He served as the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) Secretary for Social Development and Secretary of Transportation from 2007 to 2011 after being appointed by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as Special Assistant.
He returned to practising law after the 2011 election for a new administration, until President Goodluck Jonathan named him as Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council in November 2013.
He was chosen in July 2021 to lead National Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) made up of ECOWAS member States.
The Zero Oil Plan is being driven by Awolowo as an economic strategy for Nigeria. It debuted in 2016. He has made arrangements to spread the word about the initiative to the business community, appropriate governmental agencies, and organisations that support global development.
Zero Oil is a component of the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning’s medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). In order to enhance foreign exchange earnings, promote the value of Nigerian created goods and services overseas, and generate jobs, his Zero Oil plan seeks to increase the nation’s export by increasing domestic production of goods. It hopes to produce $30 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
Awolowo is a married father of three. His daughter Seun is a motivational speaker and the founder of Teach-A-Girl Nigeria, a non-profit organisation that promotes girls’ education in Nigeria. In addition, she founded 3D Living Moments and Leads Africa.
