Event
Lagos Speaker Obasa Leads Prayers for Tinubu at 74
Tinubu 74th birthday prayer led by Obasa in Lagos draws leaders and clerics to seek unity, peace, and support for national progress
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, on Saturday led a large interfaith gathering in honour of President Bola Tinubu ahead of his 74th birthday.
Also read: Eid-el-Fitr: Obasa Makes Strong Appeal for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Plan
The prayer session, held at Police College Ground Ikeja, drew political leaders, stakeholders, clerics and supporters of the All Progressives Congress from across Lagos State and beyond.
Although the president’s birthday falls on March 29, the event was organised in advance by the The Mandate Movement, with organisers describing it as a moment of reflection and spiritual support for the nation’s leadership.
Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa said the Tinubu 74th birthday prayer was aimed not only at celebrating the president’s life but also at seeking divine guidance for Nigeria’s peace, unity and development.
“This special occasion is not just a celebration of a leader, but a moment of collective reflection and supplication for Nigeria’s progress,” Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa said.
He described Bola Tinubu as a pragmatic and visionary leader, highlighting key policies under the administration, including subsidy removal and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, which he said has expanded access to higher education for young Nigerians.
The speaker also referenced major infrastructure initiatives such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a transformative project with the potential to boost economic growth and tourism.
Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa further commended the efforts of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, noting that her Renewed Hope initiatives have supported women, improved food access and expanded digital learning opportunities.
In his remarks, former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode praised Bola Tinubu’s leadership, calling for sustained support to ensure the success of ongoing reforms.
“President Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s progress is commendable, and it is our collective duty to support him,” Akinwunmi Ambode said.
The event featured prayers led by both Christian and Islamic clerics, who offered supplications for the president’s health, wisdom and continued leadership, as well as for national stability and prosperity.
Also read: Obasa Appointed to CPA African Executive Committee
Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa said the large turnout reflected widespread support for Bola Tinubu, urging Nigerians to remain committed to the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda as the country approaches future political milestones.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has been announced as the Keynote Speaker for the Anniversary Public Lecture of Lagos-based online newspaper, thegazellenews’.com.
The lecture is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 15 July, 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos, by 10:00 a.m.
The event will focus on the theme: “Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Pains, The Challenges, The Prospects
In a statement, the management of TheGazelleNews said the annual lecture series was established to provide a platform for intellectual discourse and policy conversations on critical national issues affecting Nigeria and its people.
The organisers noted that the lecture has, over the years, attracted eminent personalities, policymakers, academics, media practitioners, captains of industry and political stakeholders from across the country.
The management described Dare as a seasoned administrator, journalist and communications strategist whose extensive experience in governance and public service positions him to lead discussions on grassroots governance and the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
“The annual lecture series was created to provide a platform for intellectual discourse and policy conversations on critical national issues affecting the country and its people,” the statement noted.
It further disclosed that invited guests and participants are expected from government institutions, media organisations, civil society groups and the private sector.
Dare, a distinguished global communications and multimedia expert, author and public speaker, brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, governance, public policy and strategic communications.
He currently serves as Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, where he plays a central role in shaping and coordinating the administration’s public communication strategy.
Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for combining journalism, public policy and stakeholder management, while championing institutional reforms, digital innovation and youth empowerment initiatives.
Before his current role, Dare served as Minister of Youth and Sports Development from 2019 to 2023, where he introduced the Nigeria Sports Industry Policy (NSIP), widely known as the “Sports as Business” model.
He also spearheaded the implementation of a 10-year Football Master Plan designed to reposition Nigerian football and launched the Adopt-an-Athlete Initiative to strengthen sports development.
Under his leadership, Nigeria recorded one of its most successful outings at major international sporting competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, securing a combined 35 medals.
He also facilitated the establishment of the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) to support youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Earlier, Dare served as Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) between 2016 and 2019, overseeing stakeholder engagement and supervising key departments, including Licensing and Authorisation, Legal and Enforcement, and Zonal Operations.
He also previously served as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media to Tinubu, managing media relations and political communications.
In the international media arena, Dare worked with the Independent Communication Network Limited (ICNL), publishers of The News/Tempo/PM News where he rose to become the General Editor of the flagship publication of the company, The News magazine. Dare was one of the leading lights in the media war against the military junta in the days of Babangida and late Sanni Abacha and was active in the guerilla journalism of that era.
He spent nearly a decade at Voice of America, rising to become Chief of the Hausa Service. In that capacity, he directed radio programming that reached an estimated audience of 28 million listeners daily across West Africa while introducing modern information technology tools into newsroom operations.
Academically, Dare attended Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos, New York University, Harvard University and University of Oxford. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Intelligence and Global Security.
The management of TheGazelleNews expressed confidence that Dare’s experience in governance, media, public policy and strategic communications would enrich discussions at the anniversary lecture and stimulate meaningful conversations on strengthening grassroots governance through effective public-private partnerships.
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