By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), with immediate effect.
The appointment, announced on Sunday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows the resignation of Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down from the position to pursue an elective office in his home state.
According to the Presidency, Olanrewaju-Smart brings to the role a rich blend of academic excellence, public policy expertise and extensive legislative experience spanning more than a decade within the National Assembly and the Presidency.
The new presidential aide holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
He is also an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and possesses 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 in the United States, where he specialised in artificial intelligence and civic technology.
His career in the National Assembly began as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies.
He later rose through the ranks, serving as Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and eventually Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
In October 2023, Olanrewaju-Smart joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.
The Presidency noted that he has contributed to the development of several major public policy initiatives and legislative reforms, including work on the landmark Interest-Free Student Loan Act.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new Special Adviser would leverage his wealth of experience, intellectual capacity and commitment to enhance legislative coordination and deepen collaboration between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.
Precise Post reminds that the appointment takes immediate effect.
