Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, also called “Ijaya,” was a Nigerian politician and businesswoman who served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives from July 2023 until her passing.
She represented the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State and was the only woman in a leadership role in Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly.
She earned an MBA from the Business School of the Netherlands in 2013.
Onanuga’s career included working as a systems administrator at Quaker Oats Plc in England, head of systems and engineering at Southgate Technologies in Nigeria, and later as a pageant manager at Daily Times of Nigeria. She eventually became the CEO of event management and environmental advocacy companies.
In 2019, Onanuga was elected to the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress (APC) party. She chaired the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development during her first term. She was re-elected in 2023 and became Deputy Chief Whip, the only female leader among 19 men in Nigeria’s federal parliament.
Onanuga was passionate about social justice and human rights. She pushed for the creation of a Federal Ministry of Senior Citizens Affairs to improve services for older Nigerians. Her work focused on enhancing infrastructure, healthcare, and quality of life for her people.
In 2020, Onanuga was honored with the traditional title of Yeye Oba of Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, recognizing her important role in the community.
