President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Nkiruka Maduekwe as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) on an interim basis, pending the confirmation of her appointment by the NCCC supervisory council.
According to Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s Special Adviser on Media, Maduekwe, aged 39, holds a bachelor’s degree in law, a master’s degree in environmental law and policy from the University of Dundee (UK), and a doctorate in law from the University of Hull (UK).
Maduekwe will also serve as the co-chairperson of the intergovernmental committee on the national carbon market activation plan. She brings over 15 years of national and international experience in climate policy development and project implementation to her new role.
Additionally, the president has appointed Ibrahim Shelleng, 40, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance & Stakeholder Engagement, Office of the President. Shelleng is seconded to the NCCC Secretariat, where he will handle climate finance and stakeholder/donor relations.
Olamide Fagbuji, aged 44, has also been appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations, Office of the President. He is seconded to the NCCC Secretariat, where he will oversee the digitalization of a new open procurement process and cross-departmental procedural optimization initiative.
By the president’s directive, these appointments take immediate effect.
The president expects the new appointees to leverage their expertise and discipline in these critical roles to advance the nation’s goals for green industrial development and climate action, fostering sustainable growth and national prosperity.