{
  "id": 16401615,
  "title": "Mojisola Meranda A Milestone Journey in Politics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/mojisola-meranda-a-milestone-journey-in-politics",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T00:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/25/mojisola-meranda-a-milestone-journey-in-politics/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mojisola Meranda, the first female Deputy Speaker in Lagos State, shares her remarkable political journey with Adedayo Adejobi. She speaks of her quiet authority, the all-white office room with understated furniture, and the personal reminders that accompany her in her role. The Deputy Speaker's style is feminine and structured, with glasses lending her an air of composure and quiet intellectualism. She emphasizes her humble nature, stating that she remains Moji Meranda outside of politics, being a mother, wife, sister, niece, and auntie. Her family, she credits, has been instrumental in shaping her into the person she is today, with their greatest gift being the belief that she could pursue her interests and succeed.\n\nMeranda's political roots run deep within her progressive family within the palace, where politics was part of everyday life. Her late father, Chief Taoreed Lawal-Akapo, a legislator and traditional ruler, instilled in her the importance of being accommodating and operating an open-door policy. She lost her father at the age of 12, which forced her to take charge of her life early on. She reflects on the difficult moments and the lessons learned, emphasizing that she had to understand her desires, make decisions for herself, and learn to stand on her own.\n\nGrowing up in a large family, she was rarely alone, surrounded by siblings, cousins, and relatives. This early experience of an extended family has influenced her view of public life, with politics never being simply about occupying a seat. Meranda has always dreamt of paying her dues and giving back to her community. Her definition of success is people-centred, focusing on the individuals she has reached out to and helped, with her mentees excelling. She acknowledges the pressure on elected representatives to solve problems but emphasizes the importance of enforcement and understanding citizens' responsibilities.",
  "summary": "From losing her father at 12 to becoming the first female Deputy Speaker in Lagos State, Mojisola Meranda shares with Adedayo Adejobi her remarkable political journey, achievements and vision for women in",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Meranda’s rise signals a shift toward leadership rooted in deep-seated family values and community service, prioritizing people-centered success over the mere occupation of political office.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}