STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS CZAR FOR NIGERIA-CHINA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, an initiative solidified during the President’s visit to China in early September.
Mr. Tegbe, a distinguished 1988 first-class graduate in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, will report directly to the President. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
As the appointed czar of this strategic partnership, Mr. Tegbe will lead day-to-day operations, maintain continuous engagement with Chinese counterparts, and ensure that the partnership’s objectives align with Nigeria’s national development goals. His immediate task will be to submit a comprehensive strategic action plan that outlines how Nigeria will fully capitalize on the agreements signed between both nations in Beijing.
The strategic plan will detail key deliverables, timelines, and performance metrics for all areas of cooperation. This includes priority infrastructure projects, projected investments, and anticipated socioeconomic benefits.
During the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan (approximately $51 billion) in new financing to African nations over the next three years. Additionally, he committed to supporting 30 major infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing connectivity across Africa and generating one million jobs.
During his official visit prior to the FOCAC, President Tinubu secured further commitments from President Xi, aimed at boosting Nigeria’s economic diversification, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation efforts. Nigeria and China also agreed to collaborate on expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading its power distribution systems, and establishing new industrial parks.
Moreover, both nations pledged to strengthen ties in the healthcare sector through the establishment of hospital alliances and joint medical research. Under this agreement, Chinese healthcare professionals will be deployed to enhance Nigeria’s healthcare system.
This appointment underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria maximizes the benefits of this critical partnership with China, driving sustainable development and progress across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
