Tinubu appoints Tegbe as Czar for China-Nigeria relation

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as director-general and global liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership reached by the two countries during the President’s visit in early September.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday.
Tegbe, a 1988 first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, will report directly to the President, the statement said.
“He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
“He will immediately submit a strategic action plan to enable Nigeria to benefit from the agreements between the two countries in Beijing.
“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,” Onanuga said in the statement.
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, according to the statement.
The statement recalled tha at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan, or about $51 billion, in new financing to African nations in the next three years. He also pledged support for 30 infrastructure projects to boost connectivity across the continent and create one million jobs.
“During his official visit before the FOCAC, President Tinubu also obtained a commitment from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification plans, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation.
“Nigeria and China, among others, agreed to collaborate on expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading power distribution, and creating new industrial parks.
“The two countries committed to establishing hospital alliances and collaborating on medical research. Under the agreement, Chinese healthcare professionals will be deployed to support Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“China and Nigeria agreed to collaborate to advance education and talent development, focusing on vocational training, STEM education, and academic exchanges. Joint initiatives, such as establishing engineering technology academies and providing scholarships, will help equip Nigerian youth with skills needed in a modern workforce.
“The two countries also planned to improve Nigeria’s agricultural practices through knowledge sharing, technology transfer and investment in sustainable farming techniques,” the statement noted.