President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
The appointment takes immediate effect, according to a statement from the Presidency.
Olanrewaju-Smart replaces Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned from the position to contest for an elective office in his home state.
The newly appointed presidential adviser is a scholar, public policy expert and legislative strategist with extensive experience in governance, intergovernmental relations and parliamentary affairs.
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 in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Olanrewaju-Smart was also a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and obtained a Professional Diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations.
His academic and professional credentials were further strengthened through his role as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, where he focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.
Before joining the Presidency, Olanrewaju-Smart built an extensive career in the National Assembly, serving as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies.
He later served 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, he was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.
His public policy contributions include research that supported the development of several landmark legislations, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act and other key policy initiatives.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Olanrewaju-Smart would leverage his experience, academic background and commitment to strengthen legislative coordination and improve relations between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.
The President said the appointment reflects his administration’s commitment to enhancing collaboration between the Executive and the National Assembly to advance governance and policy implementation.
