JUST IN: Tinubu Names South-East Development Commission Pioneer Chair, MD; Replaces Ginsau with Abdullahi in NWDC

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Hon. Emeka Atuma as the pioneer chairman of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), signaling his administration’s commitment to regional development. The appointment, along with other key nominations, was included in a revised list sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Hon. Mark C. Okoye has also been named as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC, pending Senate approval. The board will include notable figures such as Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, and Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, among others. Tinubu emphasized that the SEDC appointees are expected to bring their expertise to actualize the Commission’s mandate for the development of the South-East region.

In a related development, the President has made significant changes to the leadership of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC). Ambassador Haruna Ginsau, initially nominated as chairman, has been replaced by Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi. The new list also introduces Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi as members, while Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji retains his position as the Commission’s pioneer Managing Director and CEO.

The revisions to the NWDC board align with recent amendments to its establishment Act, which now requires broader representation across the country’s six geopolitical zones. Additional nominees for the NWDC include Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, and Macdonalds Michael Uyi, reflecting the expanded inclusivity in the Commission’s structure.

President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to balanced regional development and charged the newly nominated pioneers to leverage their experience to fulfill the mandates of the NWDC and SEDC.