President Bola Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership.
Tegbe’s appointment follows Nigeria and China’s commitment to establish hospital alliances and collaborate on medical research.
According to a statement on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tegbe will report directly to President Tinubu.
A first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Tegbe is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
As Director-General, Tegbe will submit a strategic action plan to ensure Nigeria benefits from agreements with China.
He will lead day-to-day operations, engage with Chinese counterparts, and ensure deliverables align with national development goals.
Nigeria and China agreed to collaborate on various projects during President Tinubu’s official visit and the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, where President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion in new financing to African nations over three years.
Tegbe’s appointment aims to facilitate the successful implementation of these initiatives.
“As the czar of the strategic partnership, he will lead day-to-day operations, engage continuously with the Chinese counterparts, and ensure that all deliverables are met and synchronised with national development goals.
“In the strategic plan, he will outline the specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation. This will include priority projects, projected investments and expected socioeconomic outcomes,” part of the statement read.
