President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a series of strategic appointments to strengthen leadership in several federal universities and major communication agencies. The move is aimed at filling vacancies, reconstituting governing boards, and enhancing institutional governance and service delivery.
For Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, the President appointed Chisom Obih to the Governing Council, replacing a late member. At Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, renowned communications scholar, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, has been named to the Governing Council. Akinfeleye, a former Head of the Mass Communication Department at the University of Lagos, currently chairs the Centre of Excellence in Multimedia and Cinematography and oversees UNILAG Radio 103.1 FM and Television.
In Zamfara State, for the newly established Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe, Prof. Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai has been appointed Vice Chancellor. Yakasai, a retired Nigerian Army Colonel, is the Provost of the College of Health Sciences at Bayero University, Kano, and serves on the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Other principal officers for the new institution include Hamisu Yusuf Yelwa as Registrar, Usman Nakazalle Sanusi as Bursar, and Dr. Shehu Aminu Liman as Librarian.
In the communications sector, President Tinubu reconstituted the boards of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). Idris Olorunnimbe was named Chairman of the NCC, while Dr. Aminu Wada retains his role as Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held since October 2023.
The USPF Board will now be chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, with Olorunnimbe serving as Vice Chairman. Other members include Oshidami Makama, Aliyu Edogi Aliyu (representing the FMCIDE), Joseph B. Faluyi (Federal Ministry of Finance), Auwal Mohammed (FMBNP), Uzoma Dozie, Peter Bankole, Abayomi Anthony Okanlawon, Gafar Oluwasegun Quadri, and the USPF Secretary.
The USPF was created to expand access to information and communication technologies in rural, unserved, and underserved communities across Nigeria.
