President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as the new Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), reinforcing his administration’s commitment to strengthening executive-legislative collaboration.
Dr. Olanrewaju-Smart succeeds Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned from the position to pursue an elective office in his home state.
A respected scholar and public policy expert, Dr. Olanrewaju-Smart holds a PhD 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 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, USA, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Civic Technology.
His career in the National Assembly spans more than a decade, beginning as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority/Majority Leader in the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies. He later served in key strategic positions, including Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
In October 2023, Dr. Olanrewaju-Smart joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a role he held until his latest appointment. His public policy contributions include research that supported several landmark legislative initiatives, notably the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Dr. Olanrewaju-Smart’s extensive legislative experience, academic background, and policy expertise would further strengthen coordination between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.
The appointment takes immediate effect.