As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the political race for the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency is beginning to gather momentum. The emergence of Oluwadara Kehinde as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has brought a young professional with a distinctive blend of public-sector experience, financial expertise, international exposure and entrepreneurial interests into the contest.

More importantly, Kehinde represents a generation of young Nigerians increasingly seeking a place at the table of governance, not merely as supporters and campaign foot soldiers, but as professionals capable of contributing directly to policymaking and legislative representation.

For a constituency seeking effective representation at the National Assembly, his background presents a compelling case for why he deserves serious consideration by the electorate.

A chartered accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Kehinde understands the importance of accountability, prudent resource management and responsible stewardship of public funds.

More significantly, his understanding of government is not merely theoretical. He spent 10 years in the Ogun State Civil Service, serving under the Office of the Accountant General between 2013 and 2023.

During that period, he worked in the Ministry of Transportation and later the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives. His responsibilities included financial administration, reconciliation, expenditure monitoring, record keeping, reporting and compliance with government financial procedures.

That experience gives him a practical understanding of how public institutions function, how government resources are managed and the importance of accountability in public administration.

But Kehinde’s profile extends beyond accounting.

He has experience in supervision, customer service, administration, community engagement, entrepreneurship and agriculture. He is also certified in Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), reflecting an awareness of the changing demands of modern governance and the growing importance of digital security.

His current professional engagement in Maryland, United States, has further exposed him to a different professional environment, where he is involved in team coordination, service delivery, stakeholder engagement and operational decision-making.

For Yewa North/Imeko-Afon, this combination of experience is significant.

Kehinde brings the perspective of a young professional who has worked within the Nigerian public service, gained exposure to international work practices and developed experience in areas directly relevant to the economic and social realities of his constituency.

At a time when young people constitute a significant part of Nigeria’s population, having a younger representative at the National Assembly can provide an important generational advantage.

A youthful representative can bring fresh ideas, greater understanding of the aspirations of young people, stronger interest in technology-driven solutions and renewed energy to constituency development. Beyond age, however, the real advantage lies in combining youth with competence, experience and a demonstrated capacity for responsibility.

Kehinde’s agricultural and entrepreneurial interests are also particularly relevant to Yewa North/Imeko-Afon, where agriculture, small businesses and grassroots economic activities remain central to the lives and livelihoods of many residents.

A representative who understands both financial management and the realities of enterprise can contribute meaningfully to conversations around agricultural development, access to opportunities, youth empowerment, small-business growth and sustainable community development.

His academic credentials further strengthen his profile. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Tai Solarin University of Education and is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Ultimately, voters will determine who is best suited to represent Yewa North/Imeko-Afon. But if the criteria are professional competence, public-sector experience, financial knowledge, leadership, international exposure, youthfulness and a connection to agriculture and enterprise, Oluwadara Kehinde has a strong case to be considered among the candidates capable of providing effective representation for the constituency.

His candidacy also presents an opportunity for the people of Yewa North and Imeko-Afon to support a new generation of leadership, one that combines youth with professional competence and practical experience.

As the NDC candidate, Kehinde now has the opportunity to present his vision directly to the people and demonstrate how his experience can be translated into meaningful representation for Yewa North and Imeko-Afon at the National Assembly.