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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, which was established during the President's recent visit to China in early September.
Tegbe, who graduated with first-class honors in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1988, will report directly to President Tinubu in his new role. He is a distinguished Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
In his capacity as director-general, Tegbe is tasked with developing a strategic action plan designed to maximize Nigeria's benefits from the agreements made during the presidential visit to Beijing. His responsibilities will include overseeing day-to-day operations, maintaining ongoing communication with Chinese counterparts, and ensuring that commitments made are aligned with Nigeria’s national development objectives.
The strategic plan will detail specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators related to various areas of cooperation, including priority projects, projected investments, and anticipated socioeconomic benefits.
During the upcoming 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping announced a commitment of 360 billion yuan (approximately $51 billion) in new financing for African nations over the next three years. This package includes support for 30 infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and generating one million jobs across the continent.
In addition to these commitments, President Tinubu secured assurances from President Xi for support in Nigeria’s economic diversification, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation plans. The countries have agreed to collaborate on several initiatives, such as expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading power distribution, and developing new industrial parks.
The partnership also focuses on healthcare, with plans to establish hospital alliances and enhance medical research, including the deployment of Chinese healthcare professionals to support Nigeria's healthcare system. Furthermore, the two nations aim to foster education and talent development, emphasizing vocational training, STEM education, and academic exchanges. Joint initiatives will include the establishment of engineering technology academies and scholarship programs for Nigerian youth.
With over 35 years of experience in business strategy, Tegbe has held prominent positions, including senior partner and head of advisory services at KPMG in Africa, where he managed a diverse portfolio that extended to the Middle East. He has also provided strategic planning and investment advice to numerous Fortune 500 companies and African conglomerates, in addition to leading investment drives for subnational governments across various countries, including South Africa, Denmark, China, India, Singapore, and the UAE.
At 58 years old, Tegbe’s extensive background in strategic planning and investment will be crucial in ensuring the successful implementation of the agreements made between Nigeria and China.