Reuben Abati facts for kids

Reuben Adeleye Abati (born 7 November 1965) is a Nigerian journalist, politician, TV presenter and newspaper columnist. He was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s deputy governor candidate in Ogun State in the 2019 Gubernatorial election. Abati was Special Adviser on media to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria between Year 2011 and 2015 . He had previously been a newspaper columnist and the chairman of the editorial board of the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian, from 2001 to 2011.

Education

Abati graduated from the University of Calabar, Nigeria in 1985. He later studied at the University of Ibadan as a University Scholar.

He holds a PhD in Theatre Arts, specializing in Dramatic Literature, Theory and Criticism from the University of Ibadan (1990); a bachelor's degree in law from Lagos State University, Lagos (1999); a professional training certificate in journalism from the College of Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park, United States (1996–97); and a Certificate in Management and Leadership from the Said Business School, University of Oxford (2015).

Career

Journalistic career

Abati originally started his career as a university teacher, teaching courses in drama and literature at the Olabisi Onabajo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.

Between 2000 and 2011, Reuben Abati was also a member and co-presenter of the television discussion programme, Patito's Gang, founded by Professor Pat Utomi. Between 2003 and 2007, he served as a member of the Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State and was a member of the Board of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (2007-2011).

Before working in government, Reuben Abati was chairman of the editorial board at The Guardian Newspapers, a privately owned, independent Nigerian newspaper from 2000 to 2011. He also was Editorial Page Editor and columnist, running two columns per week.

Working at the Presidency

In 2011, he was appointed Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and as Official Spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. In that capacity, he was responsible for managing the President's media office, media relations and leading the Presidency's public communications team.

Post Presidency media work

After his stint in government, Reuben Abati returned to journalism, writing his regular two columns in The Guardian newspaper (Fridays and Sundays). He subsequently moved to ThisDay newspaper where he now writes a Tuesday column titled: TuesdayWithReubenAbati. He is a presenter of Arise News' The Morning Show, alongside Ojy Okpe and is actively engaged as a consultant on media and public policy issues.