ABUJA: President Bola Ahmed 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).
According to a statement issued by the State House and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who was appointed in July, will continue to serve as Chairman of the UBEC Board.
Other members of the UBEC Board include Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem representing the South-East; Gift Ngo for the South-South; Mrs Ibiwunmi Akinnola for the South-West; Dr Meiro Mandara for the North-East; Dr Abdu Imam Saulawa for the North-West; and Professor Paul Ibukun-Olu Bolorunduro representing the North-Central.
The statement noted that the chairman and board members will serve a four-year renewable term in the first instance.
President Tinubu also confirmed the appointment of Muhammad Babangida as Chairman and Ayo Sotinrin as Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, in line with earlier announcements.
In addition, the President approved the appointment of three executive directors and five non-executive directors to the bank’s board, drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The executive directors are Fatima Garba from Sokoto State as Executive Director, Corporate Services; Ka’amuna Ibrahim Khadi from Borno State as Executive Director, Risk Management and Strategy; and Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami from Kwara State as Executive Director, Operations.
The non-executive directors are Aminu Malami Mohammed (North-East), Charles Amuchienwa (South-East), Oladejo Odunuga (South-West), Rabiu Idris Funtua (North-West), and Kochi Donald Iorgyer (North-Central).
In the same development, President Tinubu formally constituted the board of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), following the earlier appointment of Muhammad Abu Ibrahim as Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the agency in October 2023.
The NADF, conceived by farmers and agripreneurs, was established to enhance access to affordable capital and strengthen agricultural value chains across the country.
Mallam Bello Maccido, pioneer chairman of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, was appointed Chairman of the NADF Board. He brings over three decades of experience in the financial services sector and represents the North-West.
Other board members include Dr Nelson Henry Essien, a financial consultant and banker, representing Akwa Ibom State and the South-South; and Amina Ahmed Habib, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, representing Jigawa State and the North-West.
Also appointed is Akinyinka Olufela Akinnola, an engineer and entrepreneur from Ondo State, representing the South-West.
Hassan Tanimu Musa Usman from Borno State, founder of New Frontier Developments Limited and a former non-executive director of Access Bank, represents the North-East.
Lufer Samson Orkar from Benue State represents the North-Central, while Felix Achibiri from Imo State, Group Director of Genesis Energy Holdings and Chairman/CEO of DFC Holdings Limited, represents the South-East.
