President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe as the interim director-general/chief executive officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), pending confirmation by the NCCC Supervisory Council.
The appointment aligns with Tinubu’s commitment to realising Nigeria’s green industrial vision, boosting investor confidence and unlocking sustainable economic value through various climate finance instruments.
Maduekwe, 39, brings a wealth of expertise to the role. 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 in law from the University of Hull (UK). Additionally, she will co-chair the Intergovernmental Committee on the National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP).
With over 15 years of national and international experience in climate policy development and project implementation, Maduekwe is well-equipped for her new responsibilities. She previously served as Nigeria’s national coordinator for Climate Parliament, an international, multi-partisan network of legislators working globally to address the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. She also served as the legal adviser to the former NCCC director-general.
Tinubu has also appointed Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng, 40, the senior special assistant to the president on climate finance and stakeholder engagement. He will be seconded to the NCCC Secretariat, where he will manage all matters related to climate finance and stakeholder/donor relations. In addition, Shelleng will assume the role of secretary of the Intergovernmental Committee on the 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.
Shelleng holds a master’s in business administration (MBA) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He has held leading roles across multiple financial institutions and was the head of business development for the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company PLC (NMRC) before his appointment.
Additionally, Mr. Olamide Fagbuji, 44, has been appointed the senior special assistant to the president on climate technology and operations. He will be seconded to the NCCC Secretariat, to oversee the digitalisation of the new open procurement process and the cross-departmental procedural optimisation initiative.
Fagbuji previously served as the 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 NCCC on policy research and strategy. He is a policy analyst and computer scientist.
A statement by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale indicated that these appointments take immediate effect. The president expects the new appointees to leverage their expertise and discipline to advance the nation’s green industrial development and climate action goals, fostering sustainable growth and national prosperity.
With these strategic appointments, President Tinubu underscores his administration’s dedication to addressing climate change and enhancing Nigeria’s economic resilience through sustainable practices and innovative climate solutions.
