Four Ex-commissioners, Two Energy Execs: Here’s what we know about Tinubu’s Special Advisers
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, announced the appointment of eight Special Advisers who will work with him as he gradually sets up his cabinet.
The appointments, which are with immediate effect, come a week after the 9th Senate approved Tinubu’s request to appoint 20 Special Advisers.
Special Advisers are political aides appointed to support the President in the performance of his executive duties. Their major duty is to assist and advise.
Section 151 of the Nigerian Constitution empowers the President to appoint Special Advisers.
According to a statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, on Thursday, the Special Advisers are:
1. Dele Alake – Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy
Alake, a former Commissioner for Information under Tinubu’s administration in Lagos, is a former journalist and Editor.
He is an alumnus of the University of Lagos and a former Editor of the defunct Concord newspaper owned by late MKO Abiola.
He was one of those who went into exile following the arrest of Abiola and clampdown on journalists and socio-political activists by the Sani Abacha military regime from 1993-1998.
2. Yau Darazo – Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs
Darazo, from Kaduna state, was Special Adviser on Special Duties to President Muhammadu Buhari.
3. Wale Edun – Special Adviser, Monetary Policies
Edun, a renowned economist, was Commissioner for Finance in Lagos when Tinubu was governor of the state. He is the Chairman of The Nation newspaper, where Tinubu admitted he has business interest.
He has a wide range of experience in merchant banking, corporate finance, economics and international finance at both national and international levels.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of London and a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, England.
Edun was Head of Treasury and Deputy Head of Corporate Finance at the defunct Chase Merchant Bank. He is also the Chair of ChapelHillDenham Group, Lagos, a leading investment bank. Many have tipped him as the next Finance Minister.
4. Mrs. Olu Verheijen – Special Adviser, Energy
Olu Arowolo Verheijen, an energy and financial services executive with nearly 20 years of experience, is the Founder and Managing Director at Latimer Energy, a consulting firm advising clients on value optimisation in acquisition, development and management of energy assets.
She holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from Long Island University and a Masters in Public Policy, Financial Markets Analysis, Business and Government Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.
She serves as a Trustee of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria. She has a BA from Long Island University and Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
5. Zacchaeus Adedeji – Special Adviser, Revenue
Adedeji, an accountant, corporate tax and public finance development expert, was Oyo State Commissioner for Finance from 2011-2015 under the Abiola Ajimobi administration.
Before public office, he worked with Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), one of the world’s leading multinational FMCG companies.
Adedeji holds a first class degree in Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a certificate in Comparative Tax Policy and Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. In March 2021, he was appointed by Buhari as the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).
6. Nuhu Ribadu – Special Adviser, Security
Ribadu first hit the limelight in 2003 when President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Before his appointment, there have been speculations claiming he may likely be appointed as the National Security Adviser. With his appointment as SA Security, it remains unclear if he’ll also serve as the NSA.
7. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu – Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment.
Uwajumogu, an energy executive and financial expert, is a Partner & West African Infrastructure Leader at global advisory firm Ernst & Young.
Before becoming a Partner at EY-Parthenon in 2016, he had worked with Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young, PwC, Grant Thornton LLP in Texas, United States.
Uwajumogu holds a Master in International Affairs from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
8. Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas – Special Adviser, Health
Dr Anas, a public servant and a Director in the Federal Ministry of Health, was Borno State commissioner for health between 2011 and 2015 when Vice President Kashim Shettima was governor of the state.
She is an alumnus of the University of Maiduguri where she was Best Graduating student in Pediatrics in 1989.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a Public Health Specialist and Expert in Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Adolescents and Child Health.
In 2022, Anas contested in the APC primaries for Borno South Senatorial District but lost the party’s Senate ticket to the incumbent Senator Ali Ndume.
