President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Joseph Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, following agreements made during Tinubu’s visit to China in early September 2024.
Tegbe, a first-class Civil Engineering graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University (1988), will report directly to the President.
The appointment was announced in a statement from the State House, issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday.
Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu Makes Nine New Appointments
The statement noted that Tegbe, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, will “immediately submit a strategic action plan to enable Nigeria to benefit from the agreements between the two countries in Beijing.
“As the leader of the strategic partnership, he will oversee day-to-day operations, engage continuously with Chinese counterparts, and ensure all deliverables are aligned with national development goals.
“In the strategic plan, he will outline specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation, including priority projects, projected investments, and expected socioeconomic outcomes.”
At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, President Xi Jinping announced 360 billion yuan (about $51 billion) in new financing for African countries over the next three years. He also pledged support for 30 infrastructure projects to improve connectivity across the continent and create one million jobs.
The statement continued, “During his official visit before FOCAC, President Tinubu secured a commitment from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation. Among the agreements, Nigeria and China will collaborate on expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading power distribution, and creating new industrial parks.”
Read Also: ‘Those Who Will Rescue Nigeria Not Yet Born’ – Joe Igbokwe Laments After Campaigning For Tinubu To Become President
The two nations also agreed to establish hospital alliances, collaborate on medical research, and deploy Chinese healthcare professionals to bolster Nigeria’s healthcare system.
In the education sector, the partnership will prioritize vocational training, STEM education, and academic exchanges. It includes joint efforts to establish engineering technology academies and provide scholarships for Nigerian youth to develop skills for the modern workforce.
Additionally, the collaboration aims to enhance Nigeria’s agricultural practices through knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and investments in sustainable farming methods.
Tegbe, 58, brings nearly 35 years of expertise in business strategy. He previously served as the Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG in Africa, overseeing responsibilities that also covered the Middle East.
He has also led investment missions for several Nigerian states, including Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, and Bayelsa, to countries like South Africa, Denmark, China, India, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
