House of Representatives candidate for Kosofe Federal Constituency, Engr. Ekundayo Ajayi-Femi, has said political representation should be judged by tangible outcomes and responsiveness to constituents rather than visibility, speeches or election-season appearances.
Ajayi-Femi, a civil engineer, real estate developer and entrepreneur, is seeking to represent Kosofe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general election.
Speaking in a recent interview, the candidate said his decision to move from the private sector into public service was driven by a desire to apply the experience he has gained in engineering, construction and business to addressing development challenges within the constituency.
According to him, his professional background has shaped the way he approaches leadership and problem-solving.
“Engineering teaches you to think about problems in practical terms. You have to understand what is wrong, work within real constraints, plan properly and follow through,” he said.
Ajayi-Femi said he believes Kosofe has significant human and economic potential but continues to face challenges around infrastructure, employment, education, healthcare and access to opportunity.
He identified infrastructure and sustainable community development, youth and women empowerment, education and human capital development, economic opportunities and improved access to healthcare as some of the issues that would receive attention under his agenda.
On youth empowerment, the candidate said discussions around unemployment must move beyond broad promises and focus on practical pathways into work and enterprise.
“For young people and women, my focus is on skills, entrepreneurship, employment pathways and stronger access to economic opportunities,” he said.
He added that education must also become more closely connected to the demands of the economy, with greater emphasis on vocational training, digital skills, entrepreneurship and practical learning.
“We need to strengthen the connection between education, skills and the economy. Young people should leave school with more than certificates. They need the ability to solve problems, communicate, use technology, think critically and create value,” he said.
Ajayi-Femi also stressed the importance of improving healthcare access, noting that a federal legislator could use advocacy, legislation, budget engagement and oversight to push for stronger interventions while working with relevant agencies and other levels of government.
Beyond his policy priorities, the candidate said he wants to establish a closer relationship between elected representatives and the communities they serve.
According to him, constituents should know the issues their representative is pursuing, the progress being made and the challenges encountered along the way.
“I want representation to be judged by practical outcomes and responsiveness rather than how visible a politician is or how often people hear speeches,” he said.
“That relationship between representative and constituent should be active throughout the term, not only when another election is approaching.”
Ajayi-Femi, who is making his first bid for elective office, also dismissed the suggestion that leadership experience can only be acquired through previous government appointments.
He said his years of managing projects, working with teams and taking responsibility for business decisions had provided experience he believes is relevant to public service.
At the same time, he said entering politics requires a willingness to listen and learn rather than assuming professional success automatically translates into all the answers.
“I am not approaching public service with the assumption that I know everything. Leadership requires the humility to listen, work with people who understand the issues and build partnerships where necessary,” he said.
He added that his candidacy would be guided by what he described as possibility, competence and service, with accountability remaining central to how he wants to be assessed.
“People should be able to see what issues I have raised, what interventions I have pursued, what progress has been made and where there have been challenges,” Ajayi-Femi said.
“There is a great deal of potential in Kosofe. My ambition is to contribute to unlocking more of it through purposeful, accountable and people-centred representation.”
Ajayi-Femi: Kosofe deserves representation measured by results, not visibility