President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Chief Sunday Akin Dare, as he turns 60, honoring him as a foundational figure in the creation of the All Progressives Congress and a steadfast partner in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

In a statement from the Presidency, Tinubu described Dare as “a partner in a long and arduous struggle to establish a progressive democratic order,” pointing to their joint efforts between 2013 and 2014 to forge the alliance of northern and southern progressives that gave birth to the APC.

The president noted that Dare, a seasoned journalist and communications expert, returned from the United States to join the movement and has remained unwavering in his dedication ever since.

During the party’s formative years, Dare served as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity roles in which Tinubu said he displayed fine leadership, innovative thinking, and courage under pressure.

That track record, Tinubu noted, caught the eye of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed Dare as Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission before elevating him to Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

In the current administration, Dare has added expertise in digital and new media to the presidency’s communications apparatus.

His contributions have not gone unrecognized beyond the political sphere the federal government awarded him the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and his community in Oyo State honored him with the traditional title of Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland.

Tinubu closed his tribute by wishing Dare many more years of good health and wisdom as he marked the milestone on May 29.