The barrister who became a statesman.
Thirty-three years of public service — from grassroots chairman in Ibadan North, to Secretary to the Oyo State Government, to Chief of Staff, to Senator of the Federal Republic. A life of service made ready for the next chapter.
Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli — known across Oyo simply as BSA — is a Nigerian lawyer, reformer and statesman. He was born on April 20, 1963 in Ibadan and trained in law at the University of Ibadan, later earning a Master of Laws and a Doctor of Philosophy in Legislative & Strategic Studies from the Federal University of Lokoja.
His public life has spanned the three tiers of Nigeria's federation. At the local level, he was the first elected Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government. At the state level, he served as Secretary to the State Government and later as Chief of Staff under Governor Rashidi Ladoja. At the national level, he now represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, elected in 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
His record in the Senate has been defined by a disciplined focus on education, infrastructure, economic empowerment and social justice — from paying WAEC fees for outstanding students to championing constituency projects that quietly change lives.
On April 17, 2026 he declared his candidacy for the governorship of Oyo State on a platform of inclusive governance and balanced development — an agenda built for every zone, every senatorial district and every ward of the state.
A career, year by year.
- 1963
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State
Born on April 20, 1963 into the Olofiere family of Mapo, Ibadan — a household rooted in the values of integrity, enterprise and public service.
- 1980s
Bachelor of Laws, University of Ibadan
Graduates with an LL.B (Hons) in Law from the University of Ibadan and is later called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor.
- 1991
Chairman, Ibadan North LGA
Elected as the first Executive Chairman of Ibadan North — the most populous LGA in Oyo — leading reforms in local revenue, sanitation and community infrastructure.
- 2003
Secretary to the State Government
Appointed SSG to Oyo State, where he coordinated ministerial delivery and public-sector reform at the heart of government.
- 2005
Chief of Staff, Oyo State
Steps into the Chief of Staff role, strengthening policy coordination and institutional discipline across the state executive.
- 2023
Senator, Oyo South (APC)
Wins the Oyo South Senatorial District with 111,513 votes, taking his seat in Nigeria's 10th National Assembly on the APC platform.
- 2024
PhD, Legislative & Strategic Studies
Awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Legislative & Strategic Studies from the Federal University of Lokoja.
- 2027
Candidate for Governor of Oyo State
Declares for the governorship on the APC platform on a programme of inclusive governance, balanced development and service delivery.
“Service is a discipline, not a slogan. You measure it the way a court measures evidence — by the receipts.”