Tinubu Appoints Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), with immediate effect.

The appointment, announced in a statement on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows the resignation of Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down to contest an elective office in his home state.

According to the Presidency, Olanrewaju-Smart is an accomplished scholar and public policy expert with extensive experience in legislative affairs and governance.

He holds a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, and is an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He was also a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), earned a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations, and served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, where he focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.

Before his appointment, Olanrewaju-Smart served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he assumed in October 2023.

His career in the National Assembly spans several roles, beginning as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies. He later served as Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.

The Presidency noted that he contributed to policy research on several landmark legislations, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that Olanrewaju-Smart would leverage his experience, expertise and commitment to strengthen coordination and collaboration between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.

The appointment takes immediate effect.