Nkiruka Maduekwe to Lead NCCC, Two Others Appointed to Drive Climate & Tech Initiatives

Maduekwe, DG/CEO NCCC, and two others are appointed by Tinubu to positions in climate financing and technology operations.

President Tinubu appoints Nkiruka Maduekwe as DG/CEO of National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), and two others to key positions on climate finance and technology operations. Maduekwe's appointment aims to drive Nigeria's green industrial strategy and unlock sustainable economic growth.

The appointment of Nkiruka Maduekwe as the director-general and chief executive officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) has been authorized by President Bola Tinubu.

According to presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, Maduekwe would take on an acting role until the NCCC supervisory council confirms her.

He stated that Tinubu's pledge to actualize Nigeria's green industrial strategy, increase investor confidence, and unleash sustainable economic value through diverse climate finance instruments is reflected in Maduekwe's nomination.

Maduekwe's appointment as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP) was also authorized by the president.

The 39-year-old succeeds Salisu Dahiri, the first DG of the NCCC, to whom she provided legal counsel.

She graduated from the University of Dundee, UK, with a bachelor's degree in law, the University of Hull, UK, with a master's degree in environmental law and policy, and the University of Dundee, UK, with a PhD in law.

Maduekwe has developed and implemented climate policies and projects for more than 15 years both domestically and internationally. She was the Climate Parliament's Nigeria National Coordinator before. An international, bipartisan network of lawmakers known as Climate Parliament works to address climate change and hasten the switch to renewable energy sources.

Additionally, Tinubu gave his approval to Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng's appointment as the president's senior special assistant on climate finance and stakeholder engagement.

The 40 year old  has been assigned to the NCCC secretariat, where he will be in charge of all affairs pertaining to donor/stakeholder interactions and climate funding.

In addition, he will join the presidential committee on climate action and green economic solutions, the presidential steering committee on Project Evergreen, and the intergovernmental committee on the National Carbon Market Activation Plan, or NCMAP, as secretary.

A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria with an MBA in business administration, Mr. Shelleng has held executive positions in a number of financial institutions. Prior to being named Senior Special Assistant to the President, he headed the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company PLC, or NMRC.

A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria with an MBA in business administration, Mr. Shelleng has held executive positions in a number of financial institutions. Prior to being named Senior Special Assistant to the President, he headed the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company PLC, or NMRC.

Olamide Fagbuji, 44, has been appointed by the President to the position of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations in the Office of the President.

He has been seconded to the NCCC Secretariat, where he will be in charge of the project to streamline cross-departmental procedures and digitalize a new open procurement process.

Prior to his most recent position as the Technical Advisor to the Director-General of the NCCC on Policy Research and Strategy, Fagbuji was the President's Special Assistant on Economic Matters in the previous government. He works as a computer scientist and policy analyst.

“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,” Ngelale said.