President Bola Tinubu has appointed public policy expert, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, as the new Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), replacing Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down to pursue an elective political office in his home state.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the appointment takes immediate effect.
Onanuga said Olanrewaju-Smart brings extensive legislative, academic and policy experience to the position, having served in several strategic roles within the National Assembly and the Presidency.
Before his latest appointment, Olanrewaju-Smart had been serving as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Inter-governmental Affairs since October 2023.
The presidency noted that he played a significant role in public policy development, with his research contributing to key legislative initiatives, including the enactment of the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.
Academically, Olanrewaju-Smart holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
He is also an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and holds a Professional Diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations. Additionally, he served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States.
His legislative career began as Research and Media Assistant to both the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th National Assemblies.
He later rose through the ranks to serve as Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House during the 9th and 10th National Assemblies.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Olanrewaju-Smart’s experience would enhance collaboration between the Presidency, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives, while strengthening legislative coordination.
