President Bola Tinubu has appointed Alh. Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as the new Chairman of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), pending Senate approval. A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the nomination on Friday.
Changes in NWDC Governing Board
In addition to the new Chairman, the President has made changes to the Governing Board of the NWDC. The revised list replaces previous nominees Ambassador Haruna Ginsau, Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura, and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman with Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi. Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji remains as the Managing Director/CEO of the commission.
Other members of the new board include Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe, Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, and Aminu Suleiman. To comply with adjustments made by the Senate to the NWDC’s establishment act, new nominees from all six geopolitical zones have been added, including Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu, and others.
South East Development Commission (SEDC)
President Tinubu also nominated Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman and Hon. Mark C. Okoye as Managing Director/CEO of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), subject to Senate confirmation.
The South East board members include Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Hon. Donatus Eyinnah Nwankpa, and others, with additional nominees Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima, and Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma. Key executive positions were also filled with Prince Obinna Obiekweihe (Executive Director, Projects), Sen. Anthony O. Agbo (Executive Director, Finance and Administration), and Dr. Daniel Ikechukwu Ugwuja (Executive Director, Corporate Services).
President’s Call for Regional Development
President Tinubu emphasized his commitment to regional development, urging the newly appointed leaders of both commissions to leverage their expertise in fulfilling their mandates to develop their respective regions. The new appointments are seen as a significant step in ensuring more targeted and effective development efforts across the regions.
