Bolaji Abdullahi

Abdullahi graduated with a Second Class Upper bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. In 2001, he enrolled at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex on a Chevening Scholarship where he graduated with a Distinction in Masters in Governance and Development.[2]

In 1997, Abdullahi joined the services of ThisDay Newspapers as a reporter but left a year later for the Africa Leadership Forum. He returned in 2002 and rose to become the Deputy Editor of the Newspaper in 2003. He was subsequently appointed first as the Special Assistant, Communication and Strategy to the then Executive Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki in 2003, and later as the Special Adviser on Policy and Strategy in 2005. He was then appointed as the Kwara State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology from 2007 to 2011.[3] He went on to serve in the cabinet of the former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, when he was appointed as the Honourable Minister of Youth Development in July 2011, and later as the Minister of Sports.[1]

In December 2016, Abdullahi was announced as the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.[4] On the 1st of August, 2018, Abdullahi officially resigned as the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress and defected from the party.[5]

On the 12th of August, 2020, Abdullahi officially started a mentorship program known as "Bolaji Abdullahi Mentorship Programme (BAMP)" aimed at training Nigerian youths on leadership, personal development, and management.[6] In addition to Abdullahi, the Chief mentor, other mentors involved in the programme include Ngozi Njemanze, Special Assistant (Policy) at Ministry of Aviation; Fahad Garba Aliyu, Founder and Executive Director at Ignite Africa; and Oluwole Onemola, Political Operative and Communications Strategist.

Since the programme started, renowned Nigerian citizens invited to speak with the mentees include: Akintunde Oyebode, Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Ekiti State; Chude Jideonwo, Nigerian Lawyer, Journalist and Media Entrepreneur; Maryam Bolajoko Mashood, Finance Controller at Coronation Merchant Bank; Alaya AbdulAzeez, Acting Branch Manager at Jaiz Bank Plc, Abuja; and Chinenye Monde-Anumihe, Development Partnerships Strategist.