By MUHYIDEEN JIMOH

President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of the Boards of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

This was announced in a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja.

Sen. Tanko Al-Makura, appointed in July, continues as Chairman of the UBEC board. Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem will represent the South-East, while Gift Ngo represents the South-South.

Mrs. Ibiwunmi Akinnola represents the South West, Dr. Meiro Mandara, the North-East, Dr. Abdu Imam-Saulawa, the North-West, and Prof. Paul Ibukun-Olu Bolorunduro, the North-Central.

They will serve a four-year term.

The president also confirmed the appointments of Muhammad Babangida as Chairman, and Ayo Sotinrin as Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, as earlier announced.

He named three Executive Directors and five non-executive directors to represent the six geo-political zones on the board of the bank.

The executive directors are: Fatima Garba of Sokoto for Corporate Services, Ka’amuna Khadi of Borno State for Risk Management and Strategy, and Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami of Kwara State, for Operations.

The non-executive directors are: Aminu Malami-Mohammed for the North-East, Charles Amuchienwa for the South-East, Oladejo Odunuga for the South-West, Rabiu Idris-Funtua for the North-West, and Kochi Iorgyer for the North-Central.

In October 2023, Tinubu appointed Muhammad Abu-Ibrahim as Executive Secretary and CEO of the National Agricultural Development Fund to lead the young agency.

The president has now constituted the board to drive the fund’s mandate of widening access to affordable agricultural capital.

Mallam Bello Maccido, former Chairman of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, serves as Chairman of the NADF board.

He represents the North-West.

Other members included Dr Nelson Essien for Akwa Ibom and the South-South, and Amina Ahmed-Habib for Jigawa and the North-West.

She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Also appointed is Akinyinka Akinnola from Ondo State, representing the South-West.

He is an Engineer with diversified business interests.

Hassan Tanimu Usman from Borno represents the North-East.

He is the founder of New Frontier Developments Ltd and a former non-executive director of Access Bank.

Lufer Orkar of Benue represents the North-Central, while Felix Achibiri of Imo represents the South-East.

He is the Group Director of Genesis Energy Holdings and Chairman as well as CEO of DFC Holdings Limited. (NAN)