President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new leadership in the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) with Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe as the interim Director-General/Chief Executive Officer.
This announcement was made through a state house press release on Sunday June 9.
According to the press release, the move is in alignment with the president’s commitment to boost investor confidence, unlock sustainable economic value through climate finance instruments, and actualise Nigeria’s Green industrial zone vision.
Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, 39, is a Bachelor of Law degree and Master’s holder in Environmental Law & Policy from the University of Dundee in the UK, and a doctorate degree in Law from the University of Hull.
President Tinubu has also appointed her as the co-chairperson of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP).
Her background spans over 15 years in climate policy development and project implementation, including her previous role as Nigeria’s National Coordinator for Climate Parliament, an international network focused on climate crisis mitigation and renewable energy transition.
She was also the legal adviser to the Director General of the NCCC.
Additionally, the President Tinubu has also appointed Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng, 40, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance & Stakeholder Engagement.
The President also approved Shelleng who holds a master’s degree in business administration from Ahmadu Bello University to assume the position of the secretary of the Intergovernmental Committee of the National Carbon Market Activation Plan and to serve as a member of the presidential committee on climate action and green economic solutions, as well as the steering committee on project Evergreen.
Before his appointment he was the head of business development for Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Plc (NMRC).
Completing the trio of appointments is Mr. Olamide Fagbuji, 44, appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations.
Fagbuji, a policy analyst and computer scientist, will oversee the digitalization of procurement processes and operational optimization initiatives at the NCCC Secretariat.
These appointments, effective immediately, align with President Tinubu’s vision for green industrial development and climate action, aimed at achieving sustainable growth and national prosperity.
The President however anticipates that the new appointees will bring their expertise and discipline to bear on these critical assignments, further advancing Nigeria’s position in the global fight against climate change.
Meanwhile, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) was formally instituted under the administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2010. It was tasked with coordinating Nigeria’s response to climate change, aligning policies, strategies, and actions across various sectors to mitigate its impacts and capitalize on opportunities for adaptation and resilience.
