President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as his new Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), replacing Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down to pursue an elective position in his home state.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Dr. Olanrewaju-Smart is a respected public policy expert and academic with an impressive educational background. He holds a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was an Edward Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
He also participated in the LEAPS Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned a Professional Diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations. In addition, he served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI, USA, where he focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.
Over the years, Olanrewaju-Smart has built extensive experience within the National Assembly. His career progressed from serving as a Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders during the 7th and 8th Assemblies to becoming Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and later Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
In October 2023, he joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a role he held until his latest appointment.
His contributions to public policy include research work that supported the development of key legislations, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.
Announcing the appointment, the Presidency expressed confidence in his ability to strengthen collaboration between the Executive and the House of Representatives.
“President Tinubu is confident that Olanrewaju-Smart will use his experience, intellect, and commitment to strengthening legislative coordination and relations between the Presidency, MDAs, and the House of Representatives,” the statement said.
The appointment takes effect immediately.
Source: Presidency.
