Reuben Abati

**Reuben Abati** Reuben Adeleye Abati (born 7 November 1965) is a Nigerian journalist, writer, politician, and television presenter. He is widely recognized for his extensive career in journalism, his influential tenure as a presidential spokesperson, and his insightful columns on Nigerian socio-political issues. **Early Life and Education** Reuben Abati holds a degree in Theater Arts from the University of Calabar. He is also a Senior Research Associate with the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Cultural Studies and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). **Journalistic Career** Before entering government, Abati established a significant career in journalism. He was a prominent newspaper columnist and served as the chairman of the editorial board of the Nigerian newspaper *The Guardian* from 2000 to 2011. During this time, he was known for his influential columns that provided critical commentary on public policy and current affairs. He also worked as an editorial page editor, contributing two columns per week. **Work at the Presidency** In 2011, Abati was appointed as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and official spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan, a position he held until 2015. In this role, he was responsible for managing the president's media office, handling media relations, and leading the presidency's public communications team. **Post-Presidency Career and Notable Works** Following his service in government, Abati returned to media work. He writes a Tuesday column titled "Tuesday With Reuben Abati" for *ThisDay* newspaper. He is also a co-presenter on Arise News' *The Morning Show*, alongside Ojy Okpe. Additionally, he works as a consultant on media and public policy issues. **Political Involvement** In 2019, Reuben Abati ran as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State. **Current Status** Currently, Reuben Abati remains active in Nigerian media as a columnist, television presenter on Arise TV's *Morning Show*, and public policy consultant.