What You Need To Know About Sunday Dare: Tinubu’s New Special Adviser

On October 23, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Sunday Akin Dare as the Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation, adding an experienced hand to his administration’s communication efforts.

Leadership Experience in Government and Media

Sunday Dare is no stranger to public service and media affairs. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, where he spearheaded various reforms and initiatives to promote sports and youth development. Before that, he was an Executive Commissioner at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) from 2016 to 2019, managing the Commission’s relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders.

Dare’s extensive career also includes serving as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on media to President Tinubu during his leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Earlier, in 2009, he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and Communications, a role where he managed public information and media policies.

Accomplished Career in Journalism

Before venturing into government service, Sunday Dare built an impressive career in journalism. From 2001 to 2009, he led the Hausa Service of Voice of America (VOA), managing a team of international journalists and correspondents. He was instrumental in producing impactful radio and online broadcasts for VOA’s African Division.

Dare’s journalistic journey started in New York as a correspondent for The Nation magazine, followed by roles as a production editor at Fourth Estate magazine and a key member of the founding teams of Nigeria’s The News and Tempo magazines during the military era.

Academic Excellence and Fellowships

Sunday Dare’s academic background is distinguished by strategic communications training at the London School of Economics (LSE) and research fellowships at Oxford University and Harvard University, where he pursued the Nieman Journalism Fellowship. He is also a Freedom Forum Fellow and a visiting scholar at the School of Journalism at New York University.

Dare holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos and a Bachelor of Science in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Published Author and Recognized Leader

An accomplished author, Dare’s works include Making a Killing: The Business of War, which won the Sigma Delta Chi Online Research Award in 2003, Guerrilla Journalism: Dispatches from the Underground (2007), We Are All Journalists: Africa in the Age of Social Media (2011), and Datelines – A Journalist’s Narrative (2016).

Throughout his career, Sunday Dare has received numerous awards and accolades. In 2010, he was named one of the 50 Leading Nigerians in North America in commemoration of Nigeria’s 50th Anniversary. He has also been recognized by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in New York for his courage and dedication to journalistic integrity. During his tenure at VOA, he was awarded the Meritorious Honor Award, the Silver Medal, and the Quality Step Increase Award for his exceptional contributions to the agency’s mission.

A Seasoned Communicator for a Strategic Role

Sunday Dare’s extensive experience in public communication, media, and government service makes him a fitting choice for the role of Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation. With this appointment, President Tinubu aims to strengthen his administration’s communication strategy and public engagement.
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