President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership reached by the two countries during the President’s visit to the country.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
The Presidential Spokesman said as the CSAR of the partnership, Tegbe will immediately submit a strategic action plan to enable Nigeria benefit from the agreements between the two countries in Beijing.
He is also expected to lead day-to-day operations, engage continuously with the Chinese counterparts, and ensure that all deliverables are met and synchronised with National Development Goals.
As part of the strategic plan, Tegbe “will outline the specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation. This will include priority projects, projected investments and expected socioeconomic outcomes.”
“At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan, or about $51 billion, in new financing to African nations in the next three years. He also pledged support for 30 infrastructure projects to boost connectivity across the continent and create one million jobs.
“During his official visit before the FOCAC, President Tinubu also obtained a commitment from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification plans, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation.
“Nigeria and China, among others, agreed to collaborate on expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading power distribution, and creating new industrial parks.
“Following his appointment, Tegbe, a 1988 first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, will report directly to the President.”
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
Tegbe has also led subnational governments, such as Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, and Bayelsa, in investment drives to South Africa, Denmark, China, India, Singapore, and the UAE.