President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of the boards of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga said the President “took the decisions in furtherance of his administration’s commitment to strengthening key institutions for national development.”
He noted that Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, earlier appointed in July, would continue to serve as chairman of the UBEC board.
According to the statement, Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem will represent the South East on the UBEC board, while Gift Ngo represents the South South.
“Mrs Ibiwunmi Akinnola will serve as the South West representative, Dr Meiro Mandara for the North East, Dr Abdu Imam Saulawa for the North West, and Prof. Paul Ibukun-Olu Bolorunduro for the North Central. The chairman and members of the board shall hold office for a term of four years in the first instance,” Onanuga said.
On the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the presidential aide confirmed that Tinubu had ratified earlier announcements on the appointment of Muhammad Babangida as chairman and Ayo Sotinrin as managing director.
He added that the President also approved the appointment of three executive directors and five non-executive directors representing the six geo-political zones.
The executive directors are Fatima Garba from Sokoto (Corporate Services), Ka’amuna Ibrahim Khadi from Borno (Risk Management and Strategy), and Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami from Kwara (Operations).
The non-executive directors include Aminu Malami Mohammed (North East), Charles Amuchienwa (South East), Oladejo Odunuga (South West), Rabiu Idris Funtua (North West), and Kochi Donald Iorgyer (North Central).
On the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Onanuga recalled that Tinubu had, in October 2023, appointed Muhammad Abu Ibrahim as executive secretary and chief executive officer.
He said the President had now approved additional board members in line with the agency’s statute.
“The President has constituted the board to support the young agency, conceived by farmers and agripreneurs, to boost access to affordable capital and drive agricultural transformation,” the statement added.
Mallam Bello Maccido, pioneer chairman of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, was appointed chairman of the NADF board. He represents the North West.
Other members are Dr Nelson Henry Essien (South South), Amina Ahmed Habib (North West), Akinyinka Olufela Akinnola (South West), Hassan Tanimu Musa Usman (North East), Lufer Samson Orkar (North Central) and Felix Achibiri (South East).
Onanuga said the President expects all appointees to “bring their expertise and integrity to bear in advancing the administration’s goals in agriculture and education.”
