President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), with immediate effect.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Olanrewaju-Smart replaces Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned from the position to contest for an elective office in his home state.
The statement described the new presidential aide as an accomplished scholar and public policy expert with extensive experience in legislative affairs and governance.
Dr. 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.
The 40-year-old policy expert was 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. He also served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, where he focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Civic Technology.
His career in the National Assembly began as a Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies.
He subsequently served in several strategic positions, including Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
In October 2023, Olanrewaju-Smart joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.
According to the Presidency, his public policy research portfolio includes contributions to several landmark legislations, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act, among others.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Olanrewaju-Smart would leverage his experience, academic background and commitment to strengthen legislative coordination and foster better relations between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.
The appointment takes immediate effect.
The statement was signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and dated July 26, 2026.
