The Senate, at plenary on Wednesday, confirmed the appointment of Halima Shehu as the national coordinator and chief executive officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Her confirmation followed the approval of a motion by Senate majority leader Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) at the Committee of the Whole.

Before her confirmation, the Senate suspended its rule to allow the admission of the nominee and other guests into the chamber.

The senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, led the nominee into the chamber.

Thereafter, the nominee gave highlights of her career profiles and professional experiences.

Ms Shehu said she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Masters degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

She said that she had over 10 years of experience in the banking industry, heading several units in banking operations.

She began her career as a National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) member at the Afri-Project Consortium, a project under the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

She served from 1999 to 2009 at the former InterCity Bank (ICB) Plc, where she was an Audit and Internal Control Officer at Unity Bank Plc while heading the Customer Service, Cash, Clearing, and Funds Transfer Unit.

She also worked with Access Bank, where she resigned as a branch services operations manager.

Ms Shehu was, at a time, a member of the board of internal revenue and was appointed as the senior special assistant to the governor of Katsina State from 2011 through 2015.

In 2016, she made a significant commitment to her role in regional diplomacy and democratic processes by becoming an esteemed member of the Electoral Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for presidential election observation at Cape Verde Island.

“I worked closely with the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development as a consultant and technical adviser.

“I also held the position of the National Programme Coordinator for the National Cash Transfer Office, a World Bank and Government-Funded Programme by the Abacha Resituated Funds (ARF),” she said.

Ms Shehu, while responding to questions, commended the Senate for the legal framework establishing the social investment programme agency.

She said the agency would ensure seamless implementation of the various aspects of the programme.

“The agency under my watch, with other stakeholders, will ensure transparency in the implementation of the programmes and in the selection of vulnerable Nigerians across the country.

“There will be full and logical implementation of the programmes for better attainment of the goals and objectives of the agency,” Ms Shehu said.

(NAN)