ABIKE DABIRI IS BUHARI'S NEW SSA ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DIASPORA

President Muhammed Buhari has approved the appointment of former House of Reps member,Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

Born in Jos, Plateau State she  is a Nigerian politician and former member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Constituency in Lagos State. She was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity.

She was also the former Chair of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.

She was elected for the first time in 2003, and re-elected in 2007 and 2011

Dabiri-Erewa worked for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for fifteen years, anchoring the weekly NTA Newsline programme and taking a particular interest in poverty and social justice issues. She retired from her position at Nigerian Television Authority to stand for election in the House of Representatives, winning with a substantial majority. While in this role, she stood against the third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Dabiri-Erewa attended Maryland Private School, Maryland, Ikeja for her primary school education, and St. Teresa’s College, Ibadan for her secondary education. She obtained her first degree in English Language from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) Ile – Ife. She obtained a post graduate diploma (PGD) in mass communication and also a master's degree in mass communication from the University of Lagos, Akoka. She also studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.

Dabiri-Erewa sponsored a number of significant bills that were passed by Parliament, including:

• The Freedom of Information Bill
• A bill for an act to ensure full integration of Nigerians with physical disabilities and eliminate all forms of discrimination against them.
• The Nigerian Infant Health Welfare Bill (ensuring every child under five receives free medical care)
• Nigerian Diaspora Commission Bill
• A bill to repeal Nigerian Press Council Bill and replace it with the Nigerian Press and Journalism Council Bill (strengthening the NPC and promote responsible journalism and protect the welfare of journalists in Nigeria).
• In 2009, Dabiri-Erewa sponsored a bill before the Nigerian National House of Assembly that would grant the freedom to practice journalism only after obtaining certain qualifications. The bill received public criticism, and was seen as an attempt to gag the media. There was a concern that the change would serve to enable tyranny and nepotism since most of the board appointments would be made by the President and/or Government executive members.

In a morning TV program aired on November 30, 2009, Dabari-Erawa denied aiding corruption and hindering media freedom, stating that the bill would serve to professionalise journalism in Nigeria.

Dabiri-Erewa was born to the family of Alhaji and Alhaja Ashafa Erogbogbo of Ikorodu. Her father, Alhaji Ashafa Erogbogbo is one of the children of late Alh. Sule Erogbogbo of Adegorunsen Compound, Ajina square, Ita – Agbodo, Ikorodu. Her paternal grandmother, Alhaja Alimotu Erobogbo is from Bello Solebo family of Ita – Elewa Square, Ikorodu. She is married to Segun Erewa.

On the 4th of August 2015, her name appeared in National dailies as part of prominent personalities have non performing loans with Nigeria Deposit Money Banks. Reacting to this development, she sent series of tweets to debunk the claim citing mistaken identity and that she owes no one. Eventually the Bank in question responded by sending an apology in dailies for their erroneous mistake.