Olanrewaju-Smart graduates at Harvard with Master’s Degree, Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy

Harvard University’s 374th Commencement Ceremony gathered a remarkable assembly of scholars, leaders, and the ivy league’s fresh graduates from more than 90 countries recently.

Among them was Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, Ph.D, a public policy expert and academic, who graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master degree in Public Administration specialized in public policy, social impact and civic technology and recipient of the prestigious Edward S. Mason Fellowship in Public Policy and Management.

The Harvard President, Alan M. Garber urged graduates to carry forward not only the knowledge gained during their studies, but also the responsibility to lead with integrity, humility and global purpose.

At the Harvard Kennedy School, Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein praised the graduating class as a community of action-oriented dreamers who see obstacles as opportunities and who are prepared to deliver bold, evidence-based solutions to the most pressing challenges in society.

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As Harvard cross-registrant, he also completed his academic studies as a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he deepened his work in civic technology and Artificial Intelligence.

Harvard Kennedy School’s 2025 graduation featured a commencement address by Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Anchor, who challenged graduates to speak truth to power, defend democracy and tell the world’s most important stories with courage.

Mr Olanrewaju Smart holds a Ph.D. in Educational Management from Lead City University, Ibadan and currently serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Inter-Governmental Affairs. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the 9th and 10th House of Representatives.

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Speaking on the significance of his new academic accomplishment, Mr Olanrewaju-Smart said graduating from Harvard alongside some of the world’s brightest minds had strengthened his skillset in integrating Artificial Intelligence and Civic Tech tools in designing and implementing policies that will redefine global governance.

“This experience at Harvard has been transformative—learning alongside exceptional peers I considered the biggest faculty has sharpened my ability to harness AI and Civic Tech as powerful instruments for policy innovation. I’m committed to applying these capabilities for more responsive, efficient, and equitable global system where social innovation thrives.”