Tinubu Appoints Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as New Adviser on House of Reps Affairs

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as the new Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).

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

Olanrewaju-Smart takes over from Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned from the position to pursue an elective political office in his home state.

According to the Presidency, the new presidential adviser brings extensive legislative experience and a strong academic background in public policy to the role.

The 40-year-old holds a doctorate in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.

He also earned a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations and has participated in international policy programmes, including the LEAPS Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Policy Fellowship at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, where he focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.

The Presidency noted that Olanrewaju-Smart has built an extensive career within the National Assembly, serving in several strategic positions across different legislative administrations.

His previous roles include Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders in the 7th and 8th House of Representatives, Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and later Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.

In October 2023, he joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.

The statement added that Olanrewaju-Smart contributed to research supporting several important pieces of legislation, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.

The Presidency expressed confidence that his experience and expertise would strengthen collaboration between the Presidency, ministries, departments and agencies, and the House of Representatives.