Toba Owojaiye ReportingÂ
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has approved a series of new appointments within the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other key government agencies. Aminu Maida is poised to assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) at the NCC, taking over from Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who is vacating his position with immediate effect.
Maida’s credentials are impressive, with over 15 years of diverse experience in FinTech, Telecoms, and Enterprise Technology. He has served as the Executive Director for Technology and Operations at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) and held significant positions at Arca Payments Network and Cisco Systems UK.
His academic achievements include an MEng in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College London and a PhD in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath UK.
The outgoing EVC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who has held the position since 2015 and was reappointed for a second term in July 2020, is stepping down amid allegations of corruption, potentially linked to the non-renewal of his tenure.
In a show of commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s technological and digital economic potential, President Tinubu has also made other notable appointments. Nkechi Egerton-Idehen will assume the role of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT).
Additional appointments include Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji as the National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and Tola Odeyemi as the Postmaster General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST). Furthermore, a new Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy, Idris Alubankudi, has been named.
These appointments, taking immediate effect, represent a significant shift in leadership and strategy within these critical government agencies, reflecting President Tinubu’s focus on advancing Nigeria’s technological and digital landscape.