Speaker Abbas Names Prof. Dan-Azumi Chief Of Staff

Prof. Jake Dan-Azumi has been appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas‘ chief of staff.

The appointment is effective as of October 17, 2023, according to a press release issued on Monday by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Mr. Wasiu Olanrewju-Smart, the Speaker’s acting chief of staff, will be replaced by Prof. Dan-Azumi because he has taken up another position.

Following the expiration of his contract as Chief of Staff to former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila in the 9th Assembly, Mr. Smart was named the acting Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

Before being hired, Prof. Dan-Azumi was the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Abuja’s Technical Assistant to the Director General.

Professor of political science and development studies, Jake Dan-Azumi has a wealth of experience in development work with a focus on democratic governance and public policy, institutional strengthening of the parliamentary system, research, peace and security, human rights, conflict resolution, and gender.

Between 2011 and 2014, he served as Senator David Mark’s Special Assistant.

Prof. Dan-Azumi is an authority on designing and executing parliamentary and democratic support programs. He has more than 14 years of total experience working in the National Assembly system.

He has a doctorate from University College London (UCL) in international development, an Oxford University MSc in international human rights law, a BA with honors from the University of Zimbabwe, where he won the Book Prize for the Best Student, and a BA with first-class standing from the University of South Africa.

In addition to his other credentials, he also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods from the University of Bradford in the UK. Prof. From Taraba State’s Zing Local Government Area, comes Dan-Azumi.