Who is Dele Alake? Things to know about President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy

Dele Alake’s astute political knowledge and communication strategies have earned him a place among President Bola Tinubu’s newly appointed eight Special Advisers.

Alake, who is now the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, hails from Ekiti State and was born on October 6, 1956 (66 years).

He is an activist, technocrat and journalist, whose work experience cuts across different media houses including electronic and newspaper.

Until his appointment, Alake was a Media Director of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Mass Communications, all from the University of Lagos.

Alake secured an appointment at the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation (LSBC) as Senior Sub-Editor, in which capacity he served till 1980.

In 1985, Alake delved into the print aspect of journalism when he joined the defunct Concord Press, publishers of the Concord Group of Newspapers – National Concord, Sunday Concord and African Concord (magazine).

He was the Editor of both Sunday Concord and National Concord and was later drawn into politics when he was made the Adviser on Information to his employer and mentor, the late Chief MKO Abiola.

Alake was the Commissioner for Information and Strategy to the then Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, between 1999–2007.

In 2014, he was appointed as the Director of Media and Communication of the Buhari Campaign Organisation for President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 election.

Alake, a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, an association he once served as its Vice-President and also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the West African Union of Journalists.

He has also received several honors and awards for his meritorious service in journalism.

He was awarded the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) International Gold Award in 2000, Special Recognition Award, Radio Lagos and Public Service Award, ECHNONEWS among others.