President Bola Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership. This appointment aligns with the commitment of both countries to establish hospital alliances and collaborate on medical research.
Background and Qualifications
The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), on Sunday. Tegbe is a distinguished 1988 first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
Role and Responsibilities
In his new role, Tegbe will report directly to the President. He is tasked with submitting a strategic action plan to maximize Nigeria’s benefits from the agreements established in Beijing. As the czar of the strategic partnership, he will manage daily operations, maintain continuous engagement with Chinese counterparts, and ensure all deliverables align with national development goals.
The strategic plan will detail specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation, encompassing priority projects, projected investments, and expected socioeconomic outcomes.
Context of the Nigeria-China Partnership
At the recent 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan (approximately $51 billion) in new financing for African nations over the next three years. Prior to the forum, President Tinubu secured a commitment from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation initiatives.
