President Tinubu Appoints Joseph Tegbe as Director-General for Nigeria-China Partnership

 

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for Nigeria-China strategic relations. This appointment comes as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the two nations, particularly in healthcare, medical research, and other critical sectors.

The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Sunday. Tegbe, a 1988 first-class civil engineering graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, will report directly to the President. He is also a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

According to the statement, Tegbe will immediately begin drafting a strategic action plan to ensure Nigeria benefits fully from its agreements with China, which were established during President Tinubu’s visit to Beijing.

"As the head of the strategic partnership, he will manage daily operations, maintain ongoing communication with Chinese counterparts, and ensure all goals are met in line with Nigeria's national development objectives," the statement read.

The plan will include specific projects, timelines, and key performance indicators, focusing on priority initiatives and expected investments that will drive economic growth.

This appointment follows the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan (approximately $51 billion) in new financial support to African countries over the next three years. During his visit to China, President Tinubu also secured commitments from President Xi to assist Nigeria’s efforts in economic diversification, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation.