Tinubu appoints 39-year-old Nkiruka Maduekwe as DG of climate change council

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Nkiruka Maduekwe as the director-general/chief executive officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, said Maduekwe will serve in acting capacity pending her confirmation by the NCCC supervisory council.

He said Maduekwe’s appointment is in accordance with Tinubu’s “commitment to actualise Nigeria’s green industrial vision, boost investor confidence, and unlock sustainable economic value through various climate finance instruments”.

The president also approved Maduekwe to serve as the co-chairperson of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP).

Maduekwe, 39, takes over from Salisu Dahiri, pioneer DG of NCCC, whom she served as legal adviser.

She holds a bachelor of law degree, a master’s degree in environmental law and policy from the University of Dundee, UK, and a doctorate degree in Law from the University of Hull, UK.

“Maduekwe has over 15 years of national and international experience in climate policy development and project implementation. She previously served as Nigeria National Coordinator, 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,” the statement reads.

Tinubu also approved the appointment of Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng as senior special assistant to the president on climate finance and stakeholder engagement.

Shelleng, 40, is seconded to the NCCC secretariat, where he will handle all matters related to climate finance and stakeholder/donor relations.

He is also 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.

“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,” the statement reads.

“The President has also approved the appointment of Mr. 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 digitalization of a new open procurement process and cross-departmental procedural optimization initiative.

“Mr. 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.

“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.”

All the appointments take immediate effect.