Ex-Sports Minister Appointed As SA To President Tinubu On Communication And Orientation

Ex-Sports Minister Appointed As SA To President Tinubu On Communication And Orientation

By Kola Daniel 

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Sunday Akin Dare, has been appointed as the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation.

His appointment was announced via a statement released on Wednesday by the Presidency.

Dare is an illustrious media mogul whose career began nearly three decades ago, with his work as a correspondent for The Nation magazine in New York and as a production editor for the European-backed Fourth Estate magazine during Nigeria's military regime. 

He was also part of the founding team of Nigerian weekly magazines The News and Tempo.

Between 2001 and 2009, Dare served as Chief of the Hausa Service, African Division at Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw radio and online broadcasts, leading a team of international journalists. 

In 2009, he became Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and Communications, playing a crucial role in media strategy, including the sale of the 2.3 GHz spectrum frequency in 2014.

In addition to his media roles, Dare founded the Social Media Clinic (SMC), an initiative to educate citizens on IT and new media use for social development. He meritoriously served as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on media to then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria.

Dare’s latest appointment signals a continuation of his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu and his deep involvement in Nigeria’s communication landscape.