Tinubu Nominates New Chairman For North West Development Commission, Others
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded to the Senate for confirmation a modified list of members of the inaugural Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC).
The President also nominated Emeka Atuma as Chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Tinubu has jettisoned some of the names on the earlier list sent to the Senate late in September 2024, for the NWDC board.
The earlier list had Ambassador Haruna Ginsau as chairman of the NWDC board with Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Abdulkadir S. Usman as members.
In the new list released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu named Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as the new NWDC Chairman, with Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, as members.
Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji retains his position as managing director and chief executive officer of the North West Development Commission.
Other board members featured on the first list are Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe, Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, and Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali and Aminu Suleiman.
After receiving the President’s first list of nominations, the Senate adjusted the NWDC’s establishment Act to accommodate members from other geo-political zones.
President Tinubu complied with the adjustment in the new list, with the following named to represent the six zones:
They are Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu, Macdonalds Michael Uyi, Yemi Ola and Babatunde Dada.
President Tinubu has equally appointed Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman and Hon. Mark C. Okoye as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), subject to their confirmation by the Senate.
Other members are Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Hon. Donatus Eyinnah Nwankpa, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman and Hamma Adama Ali Kumo.
The additional nominees are Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima and Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma.
Prince Obinna Obiekweihe, Executive Director (Projects); Sen. Anthony O. Agbo, Executive Director, Finance and Administration; and Dr. Daniel Ikechukwu Ugwuja, Executive Director (Corporate Services), were also nominated.
President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to regional development and expects the new nominees, as pioneers, to utilise their wealth of experience and expertise to actualize the mandates of the two Commissions and develop their regions.
