President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a revised list of nominees for the Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) to the Senate, along with nominations for the South East Development Commission (SEDC), as part of his commitment to regional development.
The revised NWDC list names Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as the new chairman, replacing Ambassador Haruna Ginsau.
Other changes include the replacement of Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman with Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi.
Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji retains his role as managing director and Chief Executive Officer of the NWDC.
In compliance with the Senate’s amendments to the NWDC establishment act, which require representation from all six geopolitical zones, President Tinubu added new nominees, including Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu, Macdonalds Michael Uyi, Yemi Ola, and Hon. Babatunde Dada.
To mark the importance of the appointments, the statement said President Tinubu has emphasized his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and balanced regional development.
He urged the nominees to “utilize their wealth of experience to actualize the commissions’ mandates and foster the development of their regions.”
For the South East Development Commission, the President nominated Hon. Emeka Atuma as chairman and Hon. Mark C. Okoye as managing director and chief executive officer, pending Senate confirmation.
Other board members include Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Hon. Donatus Eyinnah Nwankpa, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, and Hamma Adama Ali Kumo.
Additional nominees for the SEDC board are Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima, and Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma. Executive roles were assigned to Prince Obinna Obiekweihe (Projects), Senator Anthony O. Agbo (Finance and Administration), and Dr. Daniel Ikechukwu Ugwuja (Corporate Services).
The nominees await Senate confirmation as the commissions prepare to begin operations.
