Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has announced his resignation from the role, effective immediately. The decision, which also includes his departure from his positions as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, was disclosed in a statement issued by the Presidency on Saturday.
Ngelale’s resignation comes as he faces urgent medical issues affecting his immediate family. According to the statement, he submitted a formal memo to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, requesting an indefinite leave of absence to address these pressing concerns.
“I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate nuclear family,” Ngelale stated. “While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision—entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Official Spokesperson of the President, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen—was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.”
Ngelale, who has been a prominent figure in Nigerian media and politics, requested privacy for his family during this challenging time and expressed hope for a return to national service once circumstances allow.
His sudden departure has sparked a flurry of speculation on social media, with many Nigerians suggesting that the move may be linked to internal conflicts within President Tinubu’s administration. Critics have alleged that Ngelale’s resignation could be a result of disputes with key figures within the Aso Rock cabal, though no official confirmation has been made regarding such claims.
Ngelale’s tenure as Special Adviser to the President began on August 1, 2023, with his appointment officially taking effect from July 31, 2023. His role was set to continue through the end of the current administration, barring any changes. In addition to his media and publicity role, Ngelale was appointed as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action on May 19, 2024, and was also tasked with chairing the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
Born on November 13, 1986, in Platteville, Wisconsin, Ngelale has a diverse background, with a Nigerian father from Rivers State and a German-American mother. He has had a notable career in journalism, previously serving as a senior reporter and presenter at Africa Independent Television and Channels Television. Before his role with President Tinubu, he was the Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs to President Muhammadu Buhari and a co-principal spokesperson for the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 election.
The resignation of Ajuri Ngelale marks a significant moment in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, raising questions about the future of the key positions he held and the implications for the ongoing initiatives he was leading.
