Festus Egwarewa Keyamo (born 21 January 1970) SAN FCIArb is a Nigerian attorney, columnist and advocate for human rights. In April 2018, Keyamo was appointed as the head of Strategic Communications for the 2019 re-election campaign of President Buhari and was designated minister of aviation and aerospace development by president Bola Tinubu on 16 August, 2023.
Personal information
| Name | Festus Egwarewa Keyamo |
| Born | 21 January 1970 |
| Hometown | Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria |
| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress, APC |
| Parent(s) | Pa Matthias Keyamo, Caroline Keyamo |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Recognized for | Human rights advocacy |
Festus’s Early life and Education
Festus Keyamo was born on January 21, 1970, in Ughelli, a town located in Delta State in southern Nigeria, though his father originates from Effurun, a city in Delta. He received his primary education at Model Primary School and completed his secondary schooling at Government College, Ughelli, where he earned the West African School Certificate in 1986. He later attended Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State, where he attained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1992 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in December 1993.
Festus’s Legal career
He commenced his legal journey in 1993 at Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria. After two years at Gani Fawehinmi’s chambers, he departed to create Festus Keyamo Chambers.
He served as legal counsel to the head of the Niger-Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari during his trial for treasonable felony and was also the lead counsel in the treason case of Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Keyamo additionally represented in the murder case of Bola Ige.
In 2008, he litigated against the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding unlawful appointments of service chiefs.
In 2017, Stephanie Otobo, a singer and dancer based in Canada, accused Apostle Suleman Johnson, via her attorney Festus Keyamo, of failing to honor a marriage commitment after purportedly engaging in several sexual encounters with her.
Political appointments
Festus was one of the nominated ministers for the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari.
After his nomination, he was also examined by the senate. Up until September 24, 2019, Keyamo was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State for the Niger Delta before being reassigned to the Ministry of Labour and Employment by President Muhammadu Buhari just a month after his initial appointment on 21 August 2019.
After multiple inquiries from political analysts regarding his absence from both the first and second ministerial lists, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted Keyamo’s name to the Senate on 4 August 2023 as a nominee for ministerial confirmation.
He was appointed minister of aviation and aerospace development by President Bola Tinubu on 16 August 2023.
Awards and Recognitions
Keyamo was recognized by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) in Nigeria in July 2017 as one of the distinguished Nigerian lawyers to receive the title of SAN. Keyamo and others named on the 2017 SAN-list were inducted into the esteemed ranks of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2017.
In 2017, Keyamo was also honored with the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council in Washington for his persistent efforts in safeguarding and promoting human rights and advocating for accountable governance in Nigeria. The former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, presented Festus Keyamo and 338 others with national awards in 2023.
