"
My dad instilled in me
the values of integrity,
humility, and simplicity
My name is Asuerinme Ighodalo. I am the son of Jeremiah and Folayegbe Ighodalo from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South East Local Government of Edo State. My father, Jeremiah Aghedo Ighodalo, was one of the first people to attend secondary school in Ewohimi. He was a great father and leader who instilled in me the values of integrity, humility, and simplicity – all of which have made me who I am today.
My mother, Folayegbe, was the first female permanent secretary in Nigeria. From her, I learnt the values of selfless service and dignity in labour. My parents raised us (my older sister, Tolulope, my younger brother, Ituah, and me) to value hard work, and to focus on excellence.
They both personified these traits and showed us, by their example, the importance of hope, perseverance and the transformative power of education. I attended King’s College, Lagos and then the University of Ibadan, where I obtained a degree in Economics in 1981. I proceeded to the London School of Economics and Political Science, graduated in 1984, and went on to the Nigeria Law School in Lagos. In 1985, I was called to the Nigerian Bar. I began my legal career as an associate at the law firm of Chris Ogunbanjo and Co., and worked there for five years.
I left to set up the law firm, Banwo and Ighodalo in partnership with my friend, Femi Olubanwo in 1991. Through hard work, and by the abiding grace of God, we have successfully built one of Nigeria’s foremost corporate law firms with 15 partners and more than 100 lawyers across 3 offices in Nigeria.
AN ASTUTE PROFESSIONAL
Asue's core areas of practice are Corporate and Commercial Law, Project Finance, Securities & Capital Markets, Energy & Natural Resources, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
He has been consistently ranked as a "Tier 1" lawyer in his areas of practice by the leading global legal directories, and was admitted to the Chambers 500 Hall of Fame in 2023.
He has authored many articles in leading law publications and also delivered several presentations on diverse subjects. He has also taught Corporate Governance at the Lagos Business School.
A CORPORATE TITAN
He was the Chairman, Board of Directors: Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG); Sterling Bank Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc. and Levene Energy Group. He also previously sat on the boards of Mainstreet Technologies Limited, Cardinal Stone Partners, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Christopher Kolade Foundation, Fate Foundation, and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
He resigned all his board positions, and suspended his legal career, at the end of 2023, to run for the Office of the Governor of Edo State, offering himself, in service, to the good people of Edo State
PAST SERVICES TO EDO STATE
Asue has been actively engaged with Edo State for the last 16 years. He served on the economic team of Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, providing insights and inputs on the development of key government policies and programmes; leading to reforms implemented by that administration.
Over the past 7 years, he has served as Chairman of Alaghodaro Economic Summit Limited/Gte, a private sector think tank that has, organised the Alaghodaro Summit, and made recommendations that have attracted significant investments to Edo State.
NATIONAL LEADER
He was a member of Concerned Professionals, an alliance of private sector professionals - coordinated by the late Dr Beko Ransome Kuti who spoke out against military dictatorship and agitated for the restoration of democracy.
He was the group's NADECO representative. He was Chairman of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, and previously served on the board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.