President Bola Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership. The appointment is a part of the ongoing efforts by both nations to deepen their collaboration, especially in key sectors such as healthcare and medical research.
This development was made public in a statement issued on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The appointment of Tegbe reflects Nigeria’s commitment to benefiting from the growing partnership with China.
According to the release, Tegbe, who earned a first-class degree in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1988, is a highly experienced professional. He is also a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. Tegbe will report directly to President Tinubu and will play a key role in ensuring the success of the strategic partnership.
Tegbe’s responsibilities as Director-General include leading day-to-day operations and ensuring smooth communication and cooperation between Nigeria and China. He will work closely with Chinese officials to implement agreements made between the two countries. A major task for Tegbe will be to deliver a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at maximizing the benefits Nigeria can gain from its partnership with China. This plan will include specific timelines, performance metrics, and goals in areas such as economic diversification, technology transfer, and infrastructure development.
“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.
This partnership comes on the heels of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), during which Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan (approximately $51 billion) in new financial assistance to African nations over the next three years. As part of this commitment, Nigeria is set to receive substantial support aimed at economic development, job creation, and the advancement of infrastructure.
During his official visit to China before the FOCAC, President Tinubu secured promises from President Xi Jinping to further strengthen Nigeria’s economic goals. These include support for technology transfers, infrastructure improvement, and efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy. This appointment is seen as a crucial step toward ensuring that these commitments lead to tangible outcomes for Nigeria.
