On Monday, January 14, 2025, Mojisola Meranda was elected as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly shortly after the impeachment of Mudashir Obasa.

Obasa was accused of multiple fraudulent allegations, gross misconduct, abuse of office, corruption and financial mismanagement.

Meranda, who was Obasa’s deputy representing Apapa constituency 1, became the first female Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly after being sworn in on Monday.

Meranda was born on August 16, 1980, into the popular Akapo family in Lagos. Her late father, Chief Taoreed Lawal-Akapo, was the Ojora of Lagos from 1977 to 1993, and her mother, Princess M.A. Lawal Akapo, is of the royal families of Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto and Oniru.

She began her primary education at St. Charles Nursery and Primary School and then moved to Randle Primary School at Randle Avenue in Surulere from 1986 to 1992. She proceeded to Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School (1992–1996) and Ansar-ud-Deen Secondary School (1996–1998) for her secondary education.

In 2013, Meranda graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Lagos State University.

Meranda’s brother, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, is the Oniru of Iru land.

The 44-year-old lawmaker is one of the four women in the Lagos House of Assembly. Meranda was first elected as a member of the Lagos Assembly in 2015, having served in different capacities at the Apapa local government. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

Meranda grew up in a family of politicians and developed an interest in politics when she worked as a personal assistant to Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, a senior special assistant on technology and special projects to Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State governor.