Dele Alake Biography, Education, Career, Controversies, And Net Worth

Maria Olanrewaju | May 30, 2023 | Find It | No Comments

Dele Alake is a Nigerian journalist, activist, and technocrat. He was born on October 6, 1956. Dele Alake gained prominence as the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, serving under Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He became involved in active politics in Nigeria as the communication advisor and confidant of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12 presidential election in Nigeria in 1993.

In December 2014, Alake resurfaced in national politics as the Director of Media and Communication for the Buhari Campaign Organisation, supporting General Muhammadu Buhari’s successful bid for the Nigerian presidency in February 2015. Presently President Bola Tinubu appointed Dele Alake to the presidential council, as his Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy.

Dele Alake Profile

Name	Dele Alake
Real Name	Henry Dele Alake
Date of Birth	6 October 1956
Age	67 years
State of Origin	Ekiti State
Tribe	Yoruba
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation	Journalist, Activist, and Technocrat
Religion	Christianity
Marital Status	Married
Net Worth	$4 Million
Copied from	contents101.com

Education Background

Dele Alake attended Surulere Baptist Primary School in Lagos for his primary education from 1961 to 1967. He then enrolled in Christ’s School Ado Ekiti, where he obtained the West African School Certificate. In 1974, while pursuing his Higher School Certificate course at Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos, he obtained the General Certificate of Education.

Alake went on to enrol at the University of Lagos in 1975, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Political Science and graduated in 1978. Later, he returned to the same university and earned a master’s degree in Mass Communications in 1981.

Career

Dele Alake’s journalism career began when he served at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) as part of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program after completing his compulsory one-year national service. He then secured a position as Senior Sub-Editor at the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation (LSBC) in 1980.

Throughout his time in broadcast media, Alake played a significant role in the establishment of Lagos Television (L TV 8), the sister station of LSBC.In late 1985, Alake transitioned to print media and joined Concord Press, the publisher of the Concord Group of Newspapers, including the National Concord and Sunday Concord. He served as a writer and editor, becoming a columnist for the National Concord until 1989. In that same year, he was appointed editor of Sunday Concord, a position he held until 1995.

During this period, Alake was deeply involved in the electoral campaign of M.K.O. Abiola and the subsequent struggle for the disannulment of June 12, 1993, Presidential Election, facing harassment and persecution from the oppressive regime of General Sani Abacha. Alake’s foray into politics officially began in 1999 when he was appointed as the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy by Lagos State Governor Senator Bola Tinubu.

On October 6, 1999, he became the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy when the former Bureau of Information and Strategy was elevated to ministerial status. Alake held this position until 2007, making him the first Information and Strategy Commissioner in Nigeria’s history.

Dele Alake played a key role in transforming the ministry to be more relevant and dynamic in addressing the challenges of modern information management in a developing democracy. Presently President Bola Tinubu appointed Dele Alake to the presidential council, as his Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy.

Controversies

Dele Alake has found himself embroiled in several controversies throughout his career in Nigerian politics and journalism. One significant incident occurred during the aftermath of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election in Nigeria. Alake, serving as the editor of Sunday Concord at the time, played an active role in the electioneering campaign that ultimately led to the victory of business magnate M.K.O. Abiola.

However, following the arbitrary cancellation of the election result, Alake became a target of the oppressive regime of Late General Sani Abacha. For his outspokenness and commitment to pressing for the disannulment of the election, Alake faced terror and torment at the hands of the junta. The oppressive regime sought to silence Alake for his candour and daring actions.

Fearing for his safety and well-being, Alake went into exile, where he joined forces with other like-minded patriots, including Senator Bola Tinubu, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd.), Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Chief John Oyegun, and other prominent members of the National Democratic Coalition of Nigeria (NADECO).

In exile, Alake continued his unwavering battle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. In more recent times, Alake found himself wrongly featured in a news item in Nigeria. The news report falsely claimed that a traditional ruler had attempted to kill him. The confusion caused by this story prompted Alake to release a statement refuting the news report and demanding retractions from all news organizations that had published the false information.

Dele Alake Social Media Handles

Dele Alake is on Twitter @AlakeDele.

Personal Life

Information about Dele Alake’s personal life is not readily available. Details regarding his family, relationships, and other personal aspects are not publicly disclosed. But he is known to be married and blessed with children.