President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, a 39-year-old lawyer and climate policy expert, as the new Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC). Maduekwe will lead Nigeria’s efforts to realise its green industrial vision and drive sustainable economic development.....Read The Full Story Here ▶
She assumes the role in an interim capacity, pending confirmation by the NCCC Supervisory Council, according to a statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale.
Maduekwe, who has over 15 years of experience in climate policy and project implementation, both nationally and internationally, is taking over from Salisu Dahiru, the pioneer Director-General of the climate change council.
She previously served as Nigeria’s National Coordinator for Climate Parliament, a global network of legislators working to address the climate crisis.
According to information on her LinkedIn, Maduekwe’s passion for a sustainable world motivated her doctoral research at the University of Hull, England, where she explored using a human rights-based approach to foster sustainable practices in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
“From childhood, sustainable environment has been her passion,” reads Dr. Maduekwe’s LinkedIn profile.
In addition to helming the NCCC, President Tinubu appointed Maduekwe as the Co-Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP).
The president also named Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng as his Senior Special Assistant on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement and Mr. Olamide Fagbuji as his Senior Special Assistant on Climate Technology and Operations.
According to Ngelale, Shelleng, 40, “is seconded to the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) Secretariat, where he will handle all matters related to Climate Finance & Stakeholder/Donor Relations.
“The President has also approved that Mr. Shelleng is to assume the position of Secretary of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP) and 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.”
He added, “Mr. 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, and was Head of Business Development for the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company PLC (NMRC) before his appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the President.”
Ngelale said Fagbuji on his part “is seconded to the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) Secretariat, where he will oversee the digitalization of a new open procurement process and cross-departmental procedural optimization initiative.”
He had 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.”
The presidency said the appointments are expected to bolster the government’s efforts in addressing climate change and promoting green economic solutions.