Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has announced his resignation, citing pressing medical matters affecting his immediate nuclear family.
The announcement was made through a statement released to the media on Saturday, following his decision to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence.
In his statement, Chief Ngelale confirmed that he submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of his decision to step down from his roles as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
The decision to resign from these key positions, he stated, was to allow him to focus entirely on his family’s medical needs.
Chief Ngelale’s resignation marks the end of a notable tenure in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. President Tinubu appointed Ngelale as his official spokesperson and special adviser on media and publicity on July 31, 2023.
In recognition of his expertise and commitment, Ngelale was later appointed Nigeria’s Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action on May 19, 2024, a role he fulfilled as part of a larger presidential committee chaired by the President himself.
At just 38 years old, Chief Ngelale has had a distinguished career in both media and public service. He has previously worked as a broadcast journalist with African Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television.
Additionally, he served as a public affairs consultant at the Federal Ministry of Power and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs in the office of then-Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
As Chief Ngelale steps back from public duties, the presidency is expected to appoint a replacement to manage the critical roles he has vacated.
Read the full statement below:
On Friday, 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.
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 and 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.
I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.
I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
September 7, 2024
The Presidency has since accepted his resignation. See statement below:
