President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a revised list of nominees for the inaugural Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) to the Senate for confirmation, along with the nomination of Hon. Emeka Atuma as chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
In the original list submitted in September 2024, President Tinubu had nominated Ambassador Haruna Ginsau as chairman of the NWDC, with Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman as members. However, the revised list replaces them with Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, and appoints Alh Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as the new chairman. Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji will retain his position as managing director and CEO of the NWDC.
The initial list also included Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe, Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, and Aminu Suleiman as board members. After the Senate reviewed the President’s first list, adjustments were made to the NWDC’s establishment act to allow for representation from other geopolitical zones. In response, the new list includes nominees from each of the six zones: Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu, and Macdonalds Michael Uyi, along with Yemi Ola and Hon. Babatunde Dada.
Additionally, President Tinubu appointed Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman and Hon. Mark C. Okoye as Managing Director/CEO of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), both subject to Senate confirmation. Other members of the SEDC include 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. New additions to the SEDC board include Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima, and Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma.
Furthermore, Prince Obinna Obiekweihe, Sen. Anthony O. Agbo, and Dr. Daniel Ikechukwu Ugwuja have been nominated as Executive Directors for Projects, Finance and Administration, and Corporate Services, respectively. These appointments are also subject to Senate confirmation.
