President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Nkiruka Maduekwe as the director-general/chief executive officer of the National Council on Climate Change, which is pending confirmation by NCCC’s Supervisory Council.

Presidential aide Ajuri Ngelale announced the appointment in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the appointment was in accordance with the president’s commitment to actualising Nigeria’s green industrial vision.

Mr Ngelale said it boosted investor confidence and unlocked sustainable economic value through various climate finance instruments.

He said the president also approved that Ms Maduekwe, 39, would serve as the co-chairperson of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP).

“Maduekwe holds a Bachelor of Law degree, a Master’s degree in Environmental Law & Policy from the University of Dundee (UK), and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Hull (UK).

“She has over 15 years of national and international experience in climate policy development and project implementation. She previously served as Nigeria’s national coordinator for the Climate Parliament.

“Climate Parliament is an international, multi-partisan network of legislators working worldwide to help solve the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

“Maduekwe was also the legal adviser to the NCCC director-general,” the statement read in part.

Mr Ngelale said the president also approved the appointment of Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng, 40, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, Office of the President.

Mr Shelleng is seconded to the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) secretariat, where he will handle all matters related to Climate Finance and Stakeholder/Donor Relations.

Mr Ngelale said the president approved Mr Shelleng as Secretary of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP).

“He will serve as a member of the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, as well as the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

“Shelleng, who holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has served in leading roles across multiple financial institutions.

“He was Head of Business Development for the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company PLC (NMRC) before his appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the President,” the statement read in part.

Mr Ngelale said the president had also approved the appointment of Olamide Fagbuji, 44, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations, Office of the President.

“He is seconded to the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) Secretariat, where he will oversee the digitalisation of a new open procurement process and cross-departmental procedural optimisation initiative.

“Fagbuji served as Special Assistant to the President on Economic Matters under the previous administration and was most recently the technical adviser to the director-general of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) on Policy Research and Strategy. He is a policy analyst and computer scientist.

“By the directive of the president, the aforementioned appointments take immediate effect.

“The president expects the new appointees to bring their expertise and discipline to bear in these very important assignments in pursuance of the nation’s aspiration on green industrial development and climate action for sustainable growth and national prosperity,” the statement read.

(NAN)