In a strategic move to strengthen public communication and orientation in his administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, appointed Sunday Akin Dare as the Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation on October 23, 2024. Dare, a seasoned media professional and public servant, brings a wealth of experience to this critical role, having previously held several key positions in the Nigerian government and international media organizations.
Dare is perhaps best known for his tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports from 2019 to 2023. During this period, he spearheaded significant reforms in Nigeria’s youth development policies and sports administration, earning recognition for revitalizing the country’s sports sector. Prior to that, from 2016 to 2019, he served as the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), where he played a pivotal role in managing the NCC’s engagement with public and private sector stakeholders.
Notably, Dare’s close relationship with President Tinubu dates back to his time as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media to Tinubu when he was the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This longstanding partnership underscores the trust and confidence Tinubu has in Dare’s ability to manage public communication effectively.
Dare’s impressive media career spans several decades. Between 2001 and 2009, he served as Chief of the Hausa Service at the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C., managing radio and online broadcasts that reached millions of listeners across West Africa. His leadership at VOA earned him multiple accolades, including the prestigious VOA Meritorious Honor Award in 2009 for his outstanding performance and the Silver Medal in 2004 for his extraordinary contributions.
Before his work with VOA, Dare held several prominent media roles. He was a correspondent for The Nation magazine in New York, a production editor for the European-backed Fourth Estate magazine during Nigeria’s military regime, and was part of the founding team of Nigerian weekly magazines, The News and Tempo. These roles established him as one of the country’s most respected journalists, particularly during Nigeria’s turbulent political periods.
A Strong Academic Foundation
Dare’s academic achievements reflect his dedication to strategic communication and media excellence. He holds a Master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University. His academic journey also includes prestigious fellowships and studies at some of the world’s leading institutions, including:
- London School of Economics (LSE) in Strategic Communications
- Oxford University, where he was an Academic Research Fellow
- Harvard University, where he completed a Nieman Journalism Fellowship in New Media Studies
- New York University, where he was a Freedom Forum Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the School of Journalism
Dare is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), further underscoring his deep expertise in public communication.
Author and Award-Winning Journalist
In addition to his public service, Dare is an accomplished author with several notable publications to his name. His works, which include Making a Killing: The Business of War and Guerrilla Journalism: Dispatches from the Underground, showcase his deep insights into the media landscape and his commitment to journalistic integrity. His book We Are All Journalists: Africa in the Age of Social Media has been recognized as a significant contribution to understanding the impact of social media on African journalism.
Throughout his career, Dare has been honored with numerous awards, including a special citation for courage from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2000, and he was named one of the 50 Leading Nigerians in North America in 2010 in commemoration of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary.
Shaping Nigeria’s Public Communication Strategy
With Sunday Akin Dare’s appointment, President Tinubu has entrusted a seasoned communicator and public servant to steer the nation’s public communication and orientation strategies. Dare’s vast experience across media, government, and international platforms positions him as the ideal candidate to enhance Nigeria’s public communication efforts, foster transparency, and promote national unity.
As Nigeria moves forward under the Tinubu administration, Dare’s role will be instrumental in shaping how the government communicates its policies, engages with stakeholders, and ensures that the Nigerian public is well-informed about the government’s initiatives.
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