President Bola Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership, a collaboration formed during the President’s visit to China in early September.
This appointment was announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In his new role, Tegbe will oversee the daily operations of the partnership, maintain ongoing engagement with Chinese counterparts, and ensure that all objectives align with Nigeria’s national development goals. He will also be responsible for defining specific deliverables, timelines, and performance indicators across various areas of cooperation, including priority projects, investments, and socioeconomic outcomes.
At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan (about $51 billion) in new financing to African nations over the next three years, along with support for 30 infrastructure projects aimed at boosting connectivity and creating one million jobs across the continent. During his official visit to China, prior to the FOCAC, President Tinubu secured commitments from President Xi to support Nigeria’s efforts in economic diversification, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation.
Tegbe is expected to submit a strategic action plan to ensure Nigeria capitalizes on the agreements reached with China.
A first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (1988), Tegbe is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He previously served as a senior partner and head of advisory services at KPMG in Africa, overseeing a portfolio that included the Middle East.
Tegbe will report directly to President Tinubu.