President Bola 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) evn as he has nominated Hon. Emeka Atuma as chairman of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
Recall that in a list of nominees sent to the Senate late in September 2024, President Tinubu had nominated Ambassador Haruna Ginsau as chairman of the NWDC Board while also naming Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman as members.
However, the three nominees have been replaced with Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, while the new NWDC chairman is Alh Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi.
Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji retains his position as pioneer managing director and chief executive officer of the new interventionist agency.
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.
According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, 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 fresh nominees to represent the six geographical zones.
They are Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu and Macdonalds Michael Uyi. Others are Yemi Ola and Hon. Babatunde Dada.
President Tinubu has equally appointed Hon. Emeka Atuma as pioneer 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 Ph.D, 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 reiteratesd his commitment to regional development and expects the new nominees, as pioneers, to utilise their wealth of experience and expertise to actualise the mandates of the two Commissions and develop their regions.