Mrs Funlola Adesola Odunlami was born on the 2nd of March 1961 to the Osinibi family of Ogun State. She had her secondary education at Queen’s School Ibadan and Government College Ibadan where she obtained her O’ Level and A’ Level Certificates respectively. She proceeded to University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos in 1978 for her Law Degree and graduated with LLB (Hons.) Thereafter, she obtained her BL at the Nigerian Law School in 1982 and returned to the University of Lagos, Akoka for her postgraduate degree- LLM (Hons).
Mrs. Funlola Odunlami commenced her legal career in Oyo State Ministry of Justice where she served in the Department of Civil Litigation as a Youth Corp Member and proceeded to Ogun State Ministry of Justice in 1984 to serve in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Mrs. Odunlami joined the Lagos State Civil Service in 1987 working in the Civil Litigation Directorate. In 1991, she moved to Administrator-General & Public Trustee Directorate until 1996 when she was deployed to the Commercial Law Department and rose to the position of Director of Commercial Law, Ministry of Justice in 2006. She held that position until her appointment as Permanent Secretary on the Monday, 3rd August 2015.
As Director of Commercial Law, Mrs Odunlami also acted as the Registrar of Limited Partnerships in Lagos State. She was in charge of supervision of Commercial Legal Practice in Lagos State, drafting and vetting of Commercial Agreements, representing the State in Courts in Commercial and Contractual Matters, and Adviser to the State Government on all Commercial Matters. She is also an Arbitrator, Mediator and Negotiator. All of these duties she performed in an efficient and effective manner.
Some of Mrs. Odunlami’s major projects include being part of the negotiating team for the N15Billion Lagos State Redeemable Bond issue 2004/2005. She was part of the Legal team for the Lagos Infrastructure Power Project, Lagos EKO World Bank Project, Lekki Port Project, Lagos Mono Rail Project and most of the Independent Power Projects.
Mrs. Odunlami was the Chairperson Public Procurement Agency Law Review Committee, Member; Lagos State Arbitration review Committee, Lagos State Land Use Charge Law Review Committee, Committee on Lekki-Epe Expressway, Enron Arbitration and co-opted member Lagos State Tenders Board.
Mrs Funlola Adesola Odunlami is a member of several Professional Bodies including: Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK (Nigeria Branch).
Mrs. Odunlami is blessed with two wonderful sons and enjoys travelling and reading.