The 9th Senate’s only official responsibility for President Bola Tinubu was to approve his list of Special Advisers. Exactly a week after taking over the reins of government from ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan stated that the President has submitted him a list of 20 Special Advisers for approval.
The request was granted, as expected, by the National Assembly’s higher legislative chamber, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director Information, State House, revealed the identities of eight in a statement on Thursday, leaving 12 unknown to the public.
ALAKE DELE
Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy. Between 1999 and 2007, when the President was in charge of Lagos, Alake served as a commissioner for Information and Strategy. After that, he dropped off the political radar, playing minor parts in the background.
WALTER EDUN
Edun is a British trained financial specialist with extensive experience in the banking industry. He has a bachelors degree in Economics from the University of London and a masters Degree in Economics from the University of Sussex in England. After President Tinubu won the February election, one of the early steps he took was to fill the slots reserved for him in the then Presidential Transition Committee. Tinubu appointed two persons, one a former governor in the person of Senator Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Wale Edun, another ally who like Alake, served him as commissioner.
NUHU RIBADU
Tinubus’ Special Adviser on Security Matters was born on November 21, 1960. He has served as a lawyer, police officer and a politician. He has held various governmental positions, including Chairman of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force, but his most prominent public function is that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pioneer chairman.
VERHEIJEN, OLU
Verheiejen, the Special Adviser, Energy, is a member of the Energy for Growth Hubs advisory board. She is the founder and CEO of the BFA Foundation, which provides scholarships to women and other under-privileged groups to help them progress their careers in high growth industries such as energy. She is also an angle investor in a variety of sectors and a member of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria.
ADEDEJI, ZACHAEUS The Special Adviser on Revenue is a skilled accountant, business tax expert, and public finance development specialist. He has more than 15 years of expertise in corporate accounting, public administration, and public service consulting.
SALMA ANAS, IBRAHIM
The new Special Adviser for Health is a former Borno State Commissioner for Health who served during Governor Kashim Shettima’s first term. It was the height of the Boko Haram insurgency. She is the daughter of Ibrahim Anas, the former deputy governor of Borno State.
DARAZO, YAU
Darazo served as Special Adviser on Special Duties to former President Muhammadu Buhari and is presently President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Political and Intergovernmental Affairs.
UWAJUMOGU, JOHN
The Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment. He is a Partner with EY and the Energy leader for West Africa. 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 (AICPA).