Tinubu makes new appointments

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe as the interim Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), pending her confirmation by the NCCC Supervisory Council.

The announcement was made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday. This decision aligns with the President’s commitment to actualizing Nigeria’s green industrial vision, enhancing investor confidence, and unlocking sustainable economic value through various climate finance instruments.

Dr. Maduekwe, 39, holds a Bachelor of Law degree, a Master’s degree in Environmental Law & Policy from the University of Dundee (UK), and a Doctorate degree in Law from the University of Hull (UK). She has been appointed as the Co-Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Committee on the National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP). With over 15 years of national and international experience in climate policy development and project implementation, Dr. Maduekwe previously served as Nigeria National Coordinator for Climate Parliament and as legal adviser to the NCCC Director-General.

Additionally, Tinubu appointed Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng, 40, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance & Stakeholder Engagement. He will be seconded to the NCCC Secretariat, handling all matters related to Climate Finance & Stakeholder/Donor Relations. Shelleng, who holds an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, will serve as Secretary of the Intergovernmental Committee on NCMAP and a member of both the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions and the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen. He was previously Head of Business Development for the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company PLC (NMRC).

Furthermore, Olamide Fagbuji, 44, has been appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations. He will oversee the digitalization of a new open procurement process and cross-departmental procedural optimization initiative at the NCCC Secretariat. Fagbuji, a policy analyst and computer scientist, previously served as Special Assistant to the President on Economic Matters and as Technical Adviser to the NCCC Director-General on Policy Research and Strategy.

“These appointments take immediate effect,” stated the President. “The new appointees are expected to leverage their expertise and discipline to advance the nation’s green industrial development and climate action goals, fostering sustainable growth and national prosperity.”