In 2022, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, was named youngest Chief of Staff in the history of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, working with former Speaker of the 9th House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. He is presently a Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Intergovernmental Affairs. The young and amiable egghead currently thrives at Harvard, where he is preparing for global challenges, writes Shola Oyeyipo
J
ust as prominent sports personalities won’t do so well without their unseen technical crews, who work at the background to bring out the best in many known stars, there are so many talented brains working tirelessly behind the scenes to help many Nigerian politicians develop ideas thatevolve into many of the government policies that impact lives. Most of these persons are hardly mentioned or known.
One of such eggheads is an unassuming personality, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, who worked in the legislature before joining the executive arm. He would probably have gone unnoticed were it not that he worked very closely with the media during Hon. Gbajabiamila’s days as a member representing Surulere I federal constituency and throughout the period he served as the speaker, House of Representatives.
Olanrewaju Smart started with the House of Representatives committee on Education in 2011 and adhoc committee on fuel subsidy in 2012. He rose to prominence in 2022 as the youngest Chief of Staff in the history of Nigeria’s House of Representatives at 36, having started his career as an unpaid intern before advancing through various legislative positions.
His career included serving as Research and Media Assistant, Special Adviser on Political Matters, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff to the Speaker in both Nigeria’s 9th and 10th House of Representatives.
As Chief of Staff, many legislations passed through the scrutiny of this official who also managed diverse interests of legislators from the 360 federal constituencies in the country.
Curiously, Olanrewaju-Smart is the first chief of staff to serve two Speakers – Femi Gbajabiamila and Abbas Tajudeen.
Smart’s expertise spans public relations, political engagement, legislative relations, educational management, civic tech and public policy. Smart, as he is better known in the political and policy circles, now holds a Ph.D. in Educational Management from Lead City University and a master’s degree in public administration, specialising in public policy, social impact and civic tech from Harvard University in 2025, Edward Mason Fellowship in Public Policy Management and Certificate in Management, Leadership and Decision Sciences at Harvard Kennedy School.
He is also presently a Harvard Cross-Registrant at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Artificial Intelligence -MIT 15. 622 – Law of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Social Media and MIT 8.397 – Leadership -LEAPS.
He obtained a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations and was a recipient of the United States of America – Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Exchange (IVLP) fellowship Programme in 2014.
At Harvard where he is presently studying, as a mark of his commitment to leadership skills, he has been named Sector Chairman on Social Justice of the Student-led Business and Government Professional Interest Council (B&G PIC) at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Something very remarkable about this very enigmatic young man has been his silent but salient contributions to policy design in Nigeria.
Notable among such was his contribution to the development and legislative drafting of the country’s interest-free student loan system under the sponsorship of Gbajabiamila. The idea was simply to increase access to higher education in Africa’s most populous nation.
His passion for improving the Nigerian educational system went as far back as his undergraduate days when in 2009, he invented a grade point simulator that enabled students to digitally calculate their GPAs and set academic targets, addressing transparency concerns in manual calculation methods.
With his supervision, several landmark projects were implemented in Lagos State, particularly Surulere I federal constituency, where Gbajabiamila represented. These projects included infrastructure development, education initiatives, healthcare improvements, tech education, and social welfare programmes, in reflection of the former speaker’s commitment to grassroots governance.
As a reliable mentee to the former speaker and the Nigerian President, Olanrewaju-Smart helped to oversee the successful execution of numerous notable projects such as road rehabilitations, school renovations, provision of renewable energy solutions, hospitals, ICT centers, education and health grants.
Also included were strategic empowerment initiatives aimed at fostering youth and women development, thereby solidifying the federal government’s presence in the constituency and ensuring that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remained the dominant and acceptable party in the constituency and the state at large.
Asked what he considers his greatest public service achievement, Olanrewaju-Smart said: “One of my proudest achievements was contributing to the initiation process and passage of the interest-free Student Loan Act, making higher education more accessible to Nigerian students.”
According to him, “From 2013, when it was first sponsored by Rt.Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and repeated legislation in the 8th and 9th assemblies, the drive to see indigent students pull through their education without financial hindrances has been topmost on my mind.
“Even in the US, the little financial aid I got, coupled with my academic records paved the way for my path to a world-class education at Harvard. I had self-rejected in the past and I am grateful to all the donors.
“The interest-free education financing model under NELFUND stands Nigeria out and has brought hope to young Nigerians since President Tinubu signed the student loan bill into law. In my estimation, the interest-free student loan model is the biggest support the youth have gotten from any government in recent times.”
He said his decision to pursue education in the area of public policy implementation was predicated on the need to bring learning and understanding to policy formulation in every human endeavour.
“My experience in legislative research and implementing policies in Nigeria’s parliament showed me the need for advanced public policy education. My Harvard Kennedy School degree programme thrives on public policy, civic tech and data analytics.
“These align perfectly with my goal of bringing data-driven and AI solutions to policy implementation. I’m particularly excited about how the innovative curriculum will enhance my ability to implement effective public policies anywhere in the world,” he explained.
During an encounter in the USA recently, Smart shed more light on how he felt his ongoing academic pursuit would propel him into a better future, where he’d be able to contribute more significantly to humanity across the globe.
He noted that, “During my Harvard Kennedy School’s Edward Mason Public Policy Fellowship, I have engaged with global policy challenges, economic strategies, and leadership frameworks that align with my goal of driving impactful reforms in Nigeria and beyond.”
According to him, he had taken courses, including public interest technology, negotiation and leadership, public policy, data analysis and AI governance, strategies for social impact, systems thinking and supply chain management; economics of climate change, arts of communication anddigital government.
Others were building data smart city, the science of behavioral change, economic policy in Africa, and had hands-on experiences in study groups with global leaders,who had shaped public policy like former prime ministers of New Zealand and Jordan; former Goldman Sachs CEO etc, saying these had prepared him to take on critical issues and solve complex challenges.
“The international policy engagements, and cross-registration at MIT, have sharpened my ability to navigate complex policy landscapes. Harvard has not only expanded my intellectual capacity but also provided me with a global network of leaders and practical tools to implement sustainable reforms, making it a catalyst for my long-term vision of transforming governance and the social impact space worldwide.”
Discussing he thought young Nigerians could contribute to shaping policy delivery in the country, he said, “In an era where intellectual engagement and critical thinking are crucial, young Nigerians must prioritise the search for productive knowledge and talent development, both formally and informally, while leveraging technology responsibly.
“They should immerse themselves in understanding the dynamics of local problems to develop practical, homegrown, or global solutions. They should learn from the right mentor. I was privileged to learn directly from Gbajabiamila’s mentorship.
“By gaining hands-on experience in governance, research, and legislative processes. While making social and community impacts from small to large-scale initiatives, they can build practical expertise for effective policy formulation and advocacy.
“Acquiring STEM skills with policy knowledge will enhance their ability to leverage innovation, technology, and data-driven policymaking for sustainable development. Political and civic engagement offers a critical avenue to influence policy, whether through active political participation or as a non-state actor driving reforms through advocacy, research, and community organising.
“During my undergraduate years, serving as a United Nations Model Ambassador to Argentina exposed me to the international policymaking frameworks of multilateral organisations such as the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and the World Bank.
“Engaging with local institutions through research, fellowships, and policy engagement roles can provide young Nigerians with direct opportunities and soft power to contribute to governance and development frameworks, positioning them as key players in shaping global policies.”
Recounting his trajectory from a quiet-easy-going egghead and transformation into well-equipped public policy expert, who is more than prepared to take on the world, the story of Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart is one that is an evidence of the positive possibilities open to every Nigerian youth determined to climb the ladder of success through dedication, hard work and resilience.
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