President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a modified list of members of the inaugural Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) to the Senate for confirmation.
The President nominated Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi as the new chairman of NWDC and Ja’afar Sadeeq and Yahaya Abdulhadi as members, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Friday.
Tinubu had in September nominated Amb. Haruna Ginsau as chairman of the NWDC board, Sen. Tijani Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir Usman as members.
The President also nominated Hon. Emeka Atuma as chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prof. Abdullahi Ma’aji retains his position as managing director and chief executive officer.
Other board members featured on the first list are: Dr Yahaya Namahe, Yahaya Abdulhadi, Engr Muhammad 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.
President Tinubu complied with the adjustment in the new list, with Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr Ahmed Timasaniyu and Macdonalds Uyi, Yemi Ola and Hon. Babatunde Dada named to represent the six zones.
President Tinubu has equally appointed Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman and Hon. Mark 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 Nwankpa, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman and Hamma Adama 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.
Tinubu reiterated his commitment to regional development and expects the new nominees, as pioneers, to utilise their expertise to actualise the mandates of the two Commissions and develop their regions.