NIGERIA: President Tinubu Appoints Board Chairpersons, CEOs For Federal Agencies

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the appointment of board chairpersons for 42 federal organizations, a new Managing Director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation, a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), and a Secretary to the Board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services.

The appointments, which take immediate effect, were disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), through his official Facebook page on Friday.

In a directive accompanying the appointments, the President stressed that the roles of the board chairpersons are strictly non-executive, urging them to avoid interfering in the management of their respective organizations.

This directive underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring professionalism and effective governance across these critical sectors.

For the National Youth Service Corps under the Ministry of Youth Development, Hon. Hillard Eta from Cross River State was appointed as Chairman. At the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos State’s Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi assumes the role of Chairman. Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was named Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria under the Ministry of Aviation.

The National Sugar Development Council now has Senator Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola from Osun State, a Ph.D. holder in Law, as its Chairman. Kebbi State’s H.E. Sulaiman Argungu, OFR, with an MSc, was appointed Chairman of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, while Senator Magnus Abe of Rivers State, a legal expert with an LLB, BL, and LLM, takes over as Chairman of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.

In the education sector, Barr. Festus Fuanter from Plateau State will lead the National Teachers Institute as Chairman, holding qualifications including LLB, LLM, and an MBA. Raji Kazeem Kolawole of Oyo State, with diverse academic qualifications, was named Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation. Chief Victor Tombari Giadom from Rivers State assumes the Chairmanship of the Nigerian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, while Comrade Mustapha Salihu of Adamawa State becomes Chairman of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

For the Industrial Training Fund, Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo from Gombe State was appointed Chairman, and Hon. Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa from Abia State will head the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology. Senator Abubakar Maikafi of Bauchi State takes over as Chairman of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex.

In the financial and housing sectors, Kano State’s Nasiru Gawuna was appointed Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi of Lagos State will serve as Chairman of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion. Chief D.J. Kekemeke from Ondo State, a legal expert, was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Postal Service, and Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar from Sokoto State will chair the National Inland Waterways Authority.

Other appointments include Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar from Nasarawa State as Chairman of the National Steel Council, Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad of Kaduna State as Chairman of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, and Mu’azu Bawa Rijau from Niger State as Chairman of the National Bio-Safety Management Agency.

In the research and health sectors, Hon. Durosimi Meseko from Kogi State was named Chairman of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, while Dr. Ikye Orikpo from Delta State assumes the Chairmanship of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. Other appointments in the health sector include Hajia Zainab A. Ibrahim from Taraba State as Chairman of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, and Kayode Isiak Opeifa from Lagos State as Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The Federal Medical Centers also saw new appointments, with Aare (Hon.) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole from Ogun State heading Ido-Ekiti; Mr. Abdullahi Dayo Isreal of Lagos State at Abeokuta; Mrs. Mary Alile Idele from Edo State at Asaba; Nze Chidi Duru, OON, of Anambra State at Lokoja; Hon. Emma Eneukwu from Enugu State at Owerri; and Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke from Ebonyi State at Umuahia.

Additional appointments include Barr. Felix Chukwumenoye Morka of Delta State as Chairman of the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa, and Alhaji Bashir Usman Gumel from Jigawa State at Yola. Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu of Imo State was named Chairman of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital in Ebonyi State.

Chief Edward Omo-Erewa of Edo State will chair the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, while Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar from Kaduna State takes over at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons.

Dr. Rilwan Adamu from Kano State has been appointed Chairman of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, while Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed from Gombe State will head the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute. Similarly, Hajia Lami Ahmed Waziri from Niger State will serve as Chairperson of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, and Hon. Usman A. Bawa (Shekara) from Kaduna State was named Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.

In other health sector appointments, Hon. Nura Khalil from Zamfara State will head the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, and Hon. Peter Abugida Odeh from Benue State was appointed Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi. Dr. Bala Usman from Bauchi State assumes the role of Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, while Dr. Obinna Orji from Abia State takes over at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

For specialized agencies, Dr. Yusuf Lawal from Borno State will chair the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, while Barr. Uchenna Awom from Enugu State takes charge as Chairman of the National Boundary Commission.

President Tinubu’s commitment to empowering key sectors with qualified leadership is evident in these appointments, which aim to strengthen institutional frameworks and promote effective governance across Nigeria. The newly appointed individuals are expected to bring their expertise, professionalism, and dedication to their respective organizations to ensure the actualization of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.