Abuja – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday announced the formation of the governing boards of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The appointments, made through a State House press release signed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, are intended to strengthen governance and accelerate reforms in the agriculture and education sectors.
Senator Umaru Tanko Al‑Makura, who was appointed to the UBEC board in July, will continue to serve as its chairman. Joining him are zonal representatives: Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem for 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 for the North‑Central. The chairman and members will hold office for an initial term of four years.
For the Bank of Agriculture, President Tinubu confirmed Muhammad Babangida as chairman and Ayo Sotinrin as managing director. The bank’s new executive directors are Fatima Garba (Corporate Services, Sokoto), Ka’amuna Ibrahim Khadi (Risk Management and Strategy, Borno) and Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami (Operations, Kwara). Non‑executive directors representing the six geo‑political zones 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).
The National Agricultural Development Fund’s board will be chaired by Mallam Bello Maccido, pioneer chairman of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, who brings over 30 years of experience in financial services and represents the North‑West. Other members are Dr Nelson Henry Essien (Akwa Ibom/South‑South), a financial consultant and seasoned banker; Amina Ahmed Habib (Jigawa/North‑West), a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants; engineer Akinyinka Olufela Akinnola (Ondo/South‑West); Hassan Tanimu Musa Usman (Borno/North‑East), founder of New Frontier Developments Ltd and former non‑executive director of Access Bank; Lufer Samson Orkar (Benue/North‑Central); and Felix Achibiri (Imo/South‑East), Group Director of Genesis Energy Holdings and chairman/CEO of DFC Holdings Limited. In October 2023, President Tinubu appointed Muhammad Abu Ibrahim as executive secretary and chief executive officer of NADF to lead the agency’s efforts to broaden affordable capital for farmers and agripreneurs.
“The chairman and members of the board shall hold office for a term of four years in the first instance,” the release stated. It added that the newly constituted boards will “play pivotal roles in strengthening the institutions they lead, with a focus on expanding support for agriculture and enhancing basic education across Nigeria.”
The appointments are expected to usher in a new era of regionally balanced leadership aimed at driving agricultural transformation and improving basic education delivery throughout the country.
