Tinubu Appoints New Chairs for NWDC and SEDC, Replaces Key Nominees

President Bola Tinubu has made significant changes to the leadership of two important regional development agencies, forwarding a modified list of nominations to the Senate for confirmation. This includes the appointment of Hon. Emeka Atuma as the chairman of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and the replacement of Ambassador Haruna Ginsau with Alhaji Lawal Samaila Abdullahi as the chairman of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC).

In the revised list for the NWDC Governing Board, President Tinubu replaced the previous nominees—Ambassador Haruna Ginsau, Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura, and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman—with Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi. The new NWDC chairman, Alhaji Lawal Samaila Abdullahi, will work alongside Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji, who retains his role as the managing director/CEO of the commission.

Additionally, the new list includes board members such as Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe, Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, and Aminu Suleiman. Following a Senate adjustment to the NWDC’s establishment Act, members from all six geopolitical zones are now included, with new nominees such as Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, and Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu, among others.

For the SEDC, President Tinubu appointed Hon. Emeka Atuma as the pioneer chairman and Hon. Mark C. Okoye as the Managing Director/CEO. Other members include Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, and Hon. Donatus Eyinnah Nwankpa, among others. The executive team also includes 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 Tinubu emphasized that the new appointees, with their vast experience, are expected to play pivotal roles in advancing the mandates of these commissions and fostering regional development.