President Bola Tinubu has approved the composition of the governing boards of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the State House announced on Friday.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga on Friday, the President confirmed the retention of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as Chairman of the UBEC Board, a position to which he was appointed in July.
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New zonal representatives on the UBEC Board are Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem (South East), Gift Ngo (South South), Mrs Ibiwunmi Akinnola (South West), Dr Meiro Mandara (North East), Dr Abdu Imam Saulawa (North West) and Professor Paul Ibukun-Olu Bolorunduro (North Central). The Chairman and members are appointed for an initial four-year term.
For the Bank of Agriculture, Tinubu reaffirmed the earlier appointments of Alhaji Muhammad Babangida as Chairman and Mr Ayo Sotinrin as Managing Director/Chief Executive.
Three Executive Directors were also named: Mrs Fatima Garba (Sokoto – Corporate Services), Mr Ka’amuna Ibrahim Khadi (Borno – Risk Management and Strategy) and Mr Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami (Kwara – Operations).
Five non-executive directors representing the six geo-political zones complete the BOA board: Aminu Malami Mohammed (North East), Charles Amuchienwa (South East), Oladejo Odunuga (South West), Rabiu Idris Funtua (North West) and Kochi Donald Iorgyer (North Central).
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The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), established to improve affordable financing for farmers and agri-businesses, has also received its inaugural board. Leading the agency is pioneer FBNQuest Merchant Bank Chairman, Mallam Bello Maccido (North West), a financial services veteran with over three decades’ experience.
Other NADF board members include renowned banker and consultant Dr Nelson Henry Essien (Akwa Ibom/South South); chartered accountant Amina Ahmed Habib (Jigawa/North West); engineer and businessman Akinyinka Olufela Akinnola (Ondo/South West); Mr Hassan Tanimu Musa Usman (Borno/North East), founder of New Frontier Developments Ltd and former Access Bank non-executive director; Mr Lufer Samson Orkar (Benue/North Central); and Mr Felix Achibiri (Imo/South East), Group Director of Genesis Energy Holdings.
The statement noted that NADF’s Executive Secretary and CEO, Mr Muhammad Abu Ibrahim, was appointed in October 2023 to steer the young agency conceived by farmers and agripreneurs.
Tinubu’s latest appointments are seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions critical to agricultural transformation, rural finance and universal basic education. The reconstituted boards are expected to bring fresh expertise and regional balance to the strategic oversight of these organisations.
The new appointees are due to be inaugurated in the coming weeks.
