Tinubu’s Aide Sunday Dare Set To Deliver TheGazelleNews Lecture

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the anniversary public lecture of a prominent Lagos-based online newspaper, scheduled to take place on July 15 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos.

According to information made available by the organisers, the event will commence at 10 a.m. and will focus on the theme, “Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Pains, The Challenges, The Prospects.”

The organisers stated that the annual lecture series was established to serve as a platform for intellectual engagement and policy-driven discussions on issues of national importance. The event has consistently attracted leading figures from government, academia, the media, the private sector and the political landscape, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations on governance and development.

In announcing Dare’s participation, the organisers described him as an accomplished administrator, journalist and communications strategist whose extensive experience in governance and public service makes him well-suited to lead discussions on grassroots governance and the role of public-private partnerships in advancing national development.

Reports indicate that participants expected at the event include representatives of government institutions, civil society organisations, media establishments and key players in the private sector.

Dare brings more than three decades of experience spanning journalism, governance, public policy and strategic communications. As Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, he plays a significant role in shaping and coordinating the administration’s public communication strategy.

Throughout his career, he has earned recognition for integrating journalism, policy development and stakeholder engagement while promoting institutional reforms, digital innovation and youth-focused initiatives.

Prior to his current appointment, Dare served as Minister of Youth and Sports Development between 2019 and 2023. During his tenure, he introduced the Nigeria Sports Industry Policy, popularly known as the “Sports as Business” model, and oversaw the implementation of a 10-year Football Master Plan aimed at transforming the nation’s football sector. He also launched the Adopt-an-Athlete Initiative to strengthen sports development across the country.

Under his leadership, Nigeria recorded notable achievements at major international sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games, where Team Nigeria secured a combined total of 35 medals. He also facilitated the creation of the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund to support youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

Earlier in his public service career, Dare served as Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission from 2016 to 2019, where he supervised critical departments and coordinated stakeholder engagement efforts. He also previously worked as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media to President Tinubu, overseeing media relations and political communications.

His journalism career includes service with Independent Communication Network Limited, publishers of The News, Tempo and PM News, where he rose to become General Editor of The News magazine. He was widely recognised for his role in pro-democracy journalism during Nigeria’s military era.

Dare also spent nearly a decade at Voice of America, eventually becoming Chief of the Hausa Service. In that capacity, he managed radio programming that reached millions of listeners across West Africa while introducing modern technology into newsroom operations.

Academically, he has studied at Ahmadu Bello University, the University of Jos, New York University, Harvard University and the University of Oxford. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Intelligence and Global Security.

The organisers expressed confidence that Dare’s extensive background in governance, media, public policy and strategic communications would enrich deliberations at the anniversary lecture and contribute to deeper conversations on strengthening grassroots governance through effective public-private partnerships.