President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director General and Global Liaison for the newly established Nigeria-China strategic partnership. This partnership was formalized during President Tinubu’s recent visit to China, where significant agreements were reached between the two nations.
The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. He emphasized Tegbe’s crucial role in ensuring that Nigeria fully capitalizes on the opportunities arising from this partnership.
As the Chief Strategic Action Representative (CSAR), Tegbe will be responsible for submitting a comprehensive strategic action plan. This plan is designed to enable Nigeria to benefit effectively from the agreements made in Beijing.
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Tegbe’s duties will include managing daily operations, maintaining continuous communication with Chinese counterparts, and ensuring that all project deliverables align with Nigeria’s National Development Goals. This oversight is critical for maximizing the partnership’s potential.
The strategic plan will outline specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation. It will also identify priority projects, projected investments, and the expected socioeconomic outcomes of these initiatives.
At the upcoming 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, President Xi Jinping pledged substantial financial support for African nations, committing 360 billion yuan (approximately $51 billion) over the next three years. This funding is aimed at supporting infrastructure projects and creating job opportunities across the continent.
During his visit before the Forum, President Tinubu secured commitments from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation initiatives.
In their collaboration, Nigeria and China have agreed to focus on expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading power distribution systems, and creating new industrial parks to boost industrialization.
Tegbe, a first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, brings significant expertise to his role. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
With a proven track record, Tegbe has previously led investment drives for several Nigerian states, engaging with potential investors in countries like South Africa, Denmark, China, India, Singapore, and the UAE. He will report directly to President Tinubu, ensuring close coordination and effective implementation of the partnership’s objectives.
