President Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed his first set of special advisers, choosing eight individuals for roles ranging from revenue, energy to security.
Mr Tinubu on June 6 requested the approval of the senate to appoint 20 special advisers.
We help you quickly know who the first set of appointees are:
Dele Alake: Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy
Mr Alake served as commissioner for information and strategy in Lagos state when Mr Tinubu was governor between 1999 and 2007.
He previously worked as communication advisor to Moshood Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In December 2014, Mr Alake was the director of media and communication of the Buhari campaign organisation. He was a key member of the Tinubu campaign team and has played roles since the president’s inauguration, attending meetings and speaking on behalf of the administration.
Olu Verheijen: Special Adviser, Energy
Olubukola Verheijen is the managing director, Latimer Energy. She has nearly two decades of experience in the energy sector. She currently serves as an advisory council member of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation.
She worked as a member of the governing board of an upstream JV at Shell. She has a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Salma Ibrahim Anas: Special Adviser, Health
Salma Anas has over 25 years of experience in health sector development. She is currently the director, family health services at the federal ministry of health. She is a former commissioner for health in Borno state.
Mrs Anas was the assistant country representative/head reproductive health and HIV for the United Nations Funds for Population Activities (UNFPA) in Nigeria. She also served as a country officer on HIV/STIs for the World Health Organization in Sana’a, Yemen.
John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu: Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment
Mr Uwajumogu is partner, Transaction Advisory Service, at Ernst & Young Nigeria. He has over 20 years of advisory experience in the energy industry. He worked in the energy markets in Houston, Texas and Calgary, Alberta.
He holds a masters in international affairs from the Fletcher School at Tuff University. He is also a member of the American Institute of Chartered Public Accountants.
Zachaeus Adedeji: Special Adviser, Revenue
Mr Adedeji served as finance commissioner in the administration of former Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state. He previously worked as corporate affairs manager (West Africa) at Procter & Gamble, Lagos.
In 2021, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council. Mr Adedeji holds a master’s degree in accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Nuhu Ribadu: Special Adviser, Security
Mr Ribadu is a former police officer and chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He contested for president in 2011 and for governor of Adamawa in 2023. He has been an associate of President Tinubu for years.
Wale Edun: Special Adviser, Monetary Policies
Wale Edun has a background in economics, finance and banking.
He was finance commissioner for eight years in Lagos when Mr Tinubu was governor. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Sussex, UK.
He worked at Chase Merchant Bank and World Bank. He is the chairman of Chapel Hill Denham Group.
Yau Darazo: Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs
Ya’u Darazo was the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Special Duties. He is from Bauchi state.
Discover more from Pluboard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.