Malik Yahya/
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the constitution of new governing boards for three key national institutions – the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), as part of his administration’s push to strengthen basic education, expand access to agricultural financing, and accelerate food security initiatives.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President reaffirmed previously announced appointments and introduced new board members representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, earlier appointed in July, continues as Chairman of the UBEC Board. The commission, central to Nigeria’s basic education funding and development, now has new representatives across the zones:
• Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem – South East
• Gift Ngo – South South
• Mrs Ibiwunmi Akinnola – South West
• Dr Meiro Mandara – North East
• Dr Abdu Imam Saulawa – North West
• Prof. Paul Ibukun-Olu Bolorunduro – North Central
Members will serve a four-year renewable term.
President Tinubu confirmed Muhammad Babangida as Chairman and Ayo Sotinrin as Managing Director/CEO of the Bank of Agriculture.
Three executive directors were appointed to strengthen corporate governance and operational efficiency:
• Fatima Garba (Sokoto) – Executive Director, Corporate Services
• Ka’amuna Ibrahim Khadi (Borno) – Executive Director, Risk Management & Strategy
• Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami (Kwara) – Executive Director, Operations
Additionally, five non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones have been appointed:
• Aminu Malami Mohammed – North East
• Charles Amuchienwa – South East
• Oladejo Odunuga – South West
• Rabiu Idris Funtua – North West
• Kochi Donald Iorgyer – North Central
The appointments reflect Tinubu’s ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the BOA as Nigeria’s premier agricultural finance institution.
The President also inaugurated the board of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), established to improve farmers’ access to low-cost capital.
The board is chaired by Mallam Bello Maccido, pioneer chairman of FBNQuest Merchant Bank and a veteran of over 30 years in finance.
Other newly appointed members include:
• Dr Nelson Henry Essien (Akwa Ibom, South South)
• Amina Ahmed Habib (Jigawa, North West) – Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants
• Akinyinka Olufela Akinnola (Ondo, South West) – Engineer, investor
• Hassan Tanimu Musa Usman (Borno, North East) – Founder, New Frontier Developments; former Access Bank non-executive director
• Lufer Samson Orkar (Benue, North Central)
• Felix Achibiri (Imo, South East) – Group Director, Genesis Energy Holdings; Chairman/CEO, DFC Holdings
The NADF is headed by Muhammad Abu Ibrahim, appointed in October 2023 as Executive Secretary/CEO to lead the agency’s mandate of transforming agricultural financing for smallholders and commercial agripreneurs.
The new appointments cut across Nigeria’s six zones, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to equity, national inclusion, and sectoral transformation.
With education, agriculture, and food security topping the government’s priority list, the reconstituted boards are expected to accelerate reforms, enhance governance, and drive impactful national programmes.
