Tinubu nominates Abdullahi, Atuma as North West, South Development Commissions Chairmen

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) as he nominated  Hon. Emeka Atuma as chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

In a list of nominees sent to the Senate late in September 2024, President Tinubu nominated Ambassador Haruna Ginsau as chairman of the NWDC board while also naming  Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman as members.

The new list, according to presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, replaced them with  Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, while the new chairman is Alh Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi.

Onanuga said Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji retained his position as managing director and chief executive officer.

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,” he said.

He said 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 and Macdonalds Michael Uyi. Others are Yemi Ola and Hon. 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 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 reiterated his commitment to regional development and expected 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.