President Tinubu Appoints Olanrewaju-Smart As Adviser On House Matters

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), replacing Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned to pursue an elective office in his home state.

The appointment, announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, takes immediate effect.

Until his elevation, Olanrewaju-Smart served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he had held since October 2023.

The Presidency said the new appointee brings extensive legislative and public policy experience to the role, having worked in several strategic positions within the National Assembly.

His career includes serving as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies, before becoming Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff to the Speaker in the 9th and 10th Assemblies.

According to the statement, Olanrewaju-Smart 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 at the Harvard Kennedy School.

He was also a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations.

The 40-year-old policy expert also served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, where he focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.

The Presidency noted that Olanrewaju-Smart contributed to the development of several public policy initiatives and legislative reforms, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new adviser would leverage his experience and expertise to strengthen coordination and legislative relations between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and the House of Representatives.

The appointment takes immediate effect.

Oduyemi Odumade