The Nation Newspaper

Tag: new appointments

  • Smile: why new appointments is imperative

    Pan-African telecoms group, Smile Telecoms, said it made new appointments in the telecoms firm in line with the dynamic nature of the African telecoms space.

    The telecoms firm operates in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Its co-Chairman and Group CEO of Smile’s majority shareholder, Al Nahla Group of KSA, Mohammed H. Sharbatly, who was reacting to the appointments of Mr. Ahmad Farroukh as Group Chief Executive Officer and Ms. Irene Charnley as Deputy Chair, respectively, said the telco has transitioned from spectrum rich upstart to the fastest data provider in Africa.

    Sharbatly said:  “The Africa telecoms market is as dynamic as it is challenging, and Ahmad is suited to lead Smile’s next exciting phase of growth, as we have transitioned from a spectrum rich upstart to the fastest, most reliable data gigabyte factory in sub-Sahara Africa. We are equally delighted that Irene will continue to serve the company she founded as Deputy Chair, and we look forward to her ongoing strategic direction and guidance.”

    Both appointments takes effect  June 1. 2019.

    Farroukh, who currently serves as Smile’s Group Executive Director Operations, is a seasoned and experienced telecoms executive with a distinguished record of commercial and operational success. His experience extends to executive management positions at Investcom Holdings and the MTN Group (where he served as CEO of MTN Nigeria, MTN South Africa and Group Chief Operating Executive, responsible for 19 countries) and immediately prior to joining Smile, as CEO of Mobily, Saudi Arabia’s second largest telecoms operator. Given the extent of the opportunity and the significance to Smile, Ahmad will spend majority of his executive time in Nigeria.

    Hailed as one of Africa’s most successful business leaders, Smile Telecoms founder, and shareholder, Charnley has led the telco’s innovation and pioneering of Africa’s first 4G LTE network infrastructure, using low band spectrum in 800MHz band, thereby revolutionising the way people in Africa accessed high-speed internet. After 12 years at the helm, Ms. Charnley will now serve as Deputy Chairman and will fulfill a strategic role.

    “The next phase for Smile will focus on delivering excellent operational returns, achieving profitability and creating value for all stakeholders, and I believe that Ahmed is best suited to lead the company forward in this regard”, added Irene Charnley.

    “Africa is experiencing explosive data growth, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the operations of one of the continent’s best 4G LTE networks at this exciting time.

    It has also been a revelation after over 20 years in the industry to witness the power and versatility of Smile’s proprietary technology applications platform, which was developed in-house and provides a huge competitive and cost advantage,” concluded Ahmad Farroukh.

     

    Smile, founded in 2007, is a Mauritius-based Pan-African telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. The company has one of the largest sub-1 GHz 4G LTE commercial networks in Africa, operating in the “future proof’ low band, 800MHz band, and mid band.

    Smile was the first to launch VoLTE on its network and has continued with its innovation, having introduced SmileVoice, which is a free mobile app that enables customers with any Android or Apple iPhone device (including those which are not VoLTE-enabled) to make SuperClear voice calls over Smile’s 4G LTE network. Smile was also the first to introduce an Unlimited offering, which enables SuperFast data and SuperClear voice, all on one bundle.

     

  • SON retools operations with new appointments

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has made new appointments in its bid to retool operations and enhance service delivery in Nigeria and beyond.

    As part of the retooling exercise, the erstwhile Director of Operations, Mr. Felix Nyado,  an engineer, has been appointed Director, Corporate Affairs/SON Consult, while Mr. Dauda Yakubu, former Regional Coordinator, North West, becomes the Acting Director, Operations.

    A statement from the office of the Director-General, Osita Aboloma, said the redeployments were in furtherance of the Federal Government’s reform vision to infuse innovations into the operations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The shake-up also had Dr. Justin Nickaf move from Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) to the office of the Director- General in charge of Technical activities, while Dr. Nuhu Yahaya Fana swaps position as Director, PRS.

    Others are Dr. Bartholomew Ugwu (Deputy Director, Operations), Mr. Abba Bauchi is the Regional Coordinator, Northwest.

    The statement reiterated the resolve of SON to constantly review and retool its operations to meet  stakeholders’ demand for improved service delivery.

     

  • SON retools operations with new appointments

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has made new appointments in its bid to retool operations and enhance service delivery in Nigeria and beyond.

    As part of the retooling exercise, the erstwhile Director of Operations, Mr. Felix Nyado,  an engineer, has been appointed Director, Corporate Affairs/SON Consult, while Mr. Dauda Yakubu, former Regional Coordinator, North West, becomes the Acting Director, Operations.

    A statement from the office of the Director-General, Osita Aboloma, said the redeployments were in furtherance of the Federal Government’s reform vision to infuse innovations into the operations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The shake-up also had Dr. Justin Nickaf move from Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) to the office of the Director- General in charge of Technical activities, while Dr. Nuhu Yahaya Fana swaps position as Director, PRS.

    Others are Dr. Bartholomew Ugwu (Deputy Director, Operations), Mr. Abba Bauchi is the Regional Coordinator, Northwest.

    The statement reiterated the resolve of SON to constantly review and retool its operations to meet  stakeholders’ demand for improved service delivery.

     

  • RenCap announces new appointments to West Africa team

    Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an emerging and frontier markets investment bank, has appointed Adedapo Akinpelu as vice president, Investment Banking in Lagos.

    Akinpelu has over eight years’ experience, offering investment, equity capital-raising and mergers & acquisitions advisory services to businesses.

    Prior to joining RenCap, he worked with QG Investment Africa Management and was responsible for the origination and execution of private equity (direct) investments, covering healthcare & general industries investments across sub-Saharan Africa.

    He also worked at Standard Chartered Bank for over six years, where he focused on equity capital raising and mergers & acquisitions in the FMCG, agriculture, healthcare, telecoms, industrials and oil & gas space in Africa.

    He holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos and has been a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) since 2008 and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder since 2011.

    He will be working in close collaboration with Renaissance Capital’s well-grounded investment banking team across the continent and wider EMEA.

    Temi Popoola, chief executive Officer, West Africa, said: “We are committed to ensuring we provide best-in-class advisory services to our existing clients and potential investors in Nigeria and across the continent. Adedapo’s extensive experience and track record makes him a perfect fit for this.”

    RenCap continues to cultivate top talents, with two recent additional hires to its West Africa team: Ayobami Oladosu in the Domestic Sales Trading Team, who joined from ARM Securities with over six years of financial markets experience, and Akinlolu Akinbola in the Domestic Trading Team, from FBN Securities with over nine years’ combined experience in the financial markets.

    The firm has been recognised by the leading industry surveys, such as Institutional Investor’s 2018 All-EMEA Research Team survey and the Extel Survey 2018, in addition to the Global Finance magazine 2018 award, in which Renaissance Capital was named the Best Bank in Frontier Markets.

     

  • Dangote announces new appointments

    In order to strengthen the group’s Executive management team and sustain its strategic business growth trajectory, Africa’s foremost indigenous conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has announced new appointments.

    In the new organisational rejig, Olakunle Alake the erstwhile Chief Operating Officer (COO) is now the Group Managing Director and Dr. Adenike Fajemirokun, the Group Chief Risk Officer has been elevated to the office of Group Executive Director, President’s Office, where she will take on new roles in addition to her schedule as the Risk Officer. She is the first ever female executive director in Dangote Group.

    The management also announced the appointment of Austine Ometoruwa as Group Executive Director, Corporate Finance and Treasury.

    Earlier the Board of Dangote Cement Plc, global, announced the appointment of Cherie Blair and Mick Davies as Independent Non-Executive Directors.

    President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote,  speaking on the new appointments said:  “It is exciting seeing a female occupy such a high position. We are gender sensitive and create equal opportunities for both male and female to get to the top.

    “The new appointments are to strengthen the Group’s executive management team and to consolidate on its strategic business growth trajectory.”

     

     

  • Buhari approves five new appointments for NDDC, NERC, NHRC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of five new executives for National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

    He said the president made the appointments following their confirmation by the Senate.

    According to him, Mr Anthony Ojukwu from Imo State is the new Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with initial term of five years.

    “Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who hails from Ondo State, is the new Executive Director, Niger Delta Development Commission(N with initial term of four years.

    “Hon. Chika Ama, Nwauwa also from Imo State has been appointed the new Executive Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) also with initial term of four years.

    “Mr Nwogu N. Nwogu from Abia State is the new Executive Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with initial term of four years.

    “And Prof. James Momoh from Edo State is the new Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also with five years initial term.”

    The president directed that the appointments should take immediate effect.

  • Buhari approves new appointments for MDAs, INEC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of chief executive officers of agencies in the Federal Ministries of Health, Information and Culture, Education, Power, Works and Housing.

    Others include Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a statement by the Director Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Lawrence Ojabo, the President urged the appointees to reinvigorate the agencies in the delivery of their mandates through a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability and service delivery with integrity.

    The appointments at the Federal Ministry of Health include Dr. Abdulkareem Yusuf as  medical director of  Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital  Kaduna State.

    The appointment is for an initial term of four years with effect from April 8.

    Dr. Abubakar Musa’s appointment was renewed for four years with effect from July 3, 2017 as the  medical director of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe  State.

    Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim’s appointment was also renewed for four years with effect from April 2, as the medical director of the  Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Bauchi State.

    For the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Bauchi State, Dr. Nasir Umar’s appointment as medical director was renewed for four years. It takes effect from April 8.

    Dr. Iliasu Ahmed was appointed as the  Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, for initial term of four years with effect from April 8.

    Dr. Aliyu El-Ladan got another four years as the Medical Director of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Katsina State. It takes effect from April 8.

    For the Ministry of Information and Culture, the President appointed Dr. Stella Oyedepo as the General Manager of National Theatre, Lagos, for an interim four years with effect from April 8.

    With the appointment, the President  has separated the leadership of the National Theatre from that of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

    Also, Dr. Baba Danjuma was appointed Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, for initial term of four years with effect from December 27, 2017.

    Dr. Usman Kallamu is Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, for initial four years with effect from April 8. Dr. Jimah Sanusi is Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, for four years. It takes effect from February 23.

    The President also appointed Dr. Dayo Oladebeye as Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti for an initial term of four years with effect from February 23. Sanusi Gumau is the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi for initial four years from February 23.

    Prof. Tomunomi Abbey is Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oil and Gas Bonny, Rivers State.

    Omokungbe Omoseni was appointed as the Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State and Prof. Faruk Haruna is Provost of the Federal College or Education Kotangora, Niger State, for initial four years with effect from March 27.

    For the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the President approved the appointment of Usman Mohammed as the managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria for initial term of four years with effect from February 1.

    Buhari also appointed Dr. Emmanuel Alex Hart,  Mohammed Magaji Ibrahim, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, Dr. Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidaba, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Baba Abba Yusuf  and Yahaya Bello as Resident Electoral Commissioners for initial term of five years with effect from April 17, 2018.

    The statement revealed that the new Resident Electoral Commissioners would be inaugurated on Tuesday by the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at the INEC Headquarters.

     

     

     

     

  • Buihari names Salako, Ihekweazu, three others heads of agencies

    Buihari names Salako, Ihekweazu, three others heads of agencies

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved five new appointments for critical agencies in the Nation’s Health Sector.

    The appointments, according to a statement issued on Friday by Director (Press) in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Bolaji Adebiyi, disclosed that Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako is now Head of Nigerian Institute for Medical Research.

    Dr. Chikwe Adreas Ihekweazu is Head of the National Centre for Disease Control; Dr. Sani H. Aliyu – Head of National Agency for the Control of AIDS; Professor Echezona Ezeanolue – Head of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; and Professor Usman Yusuf – Head of National Health Insurance Scheme.

    Dr. Salako before the appointment was the Provost, College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan.  He graduated from the same University in 1986.

    He is a fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in both Edinburg and London.  He is also a member of an International Panel of Experts, United States Institute of Disease Control in Atlanta.

    Dr. Ihekweazu is currently the Managing Partner of EpiAfric, a public health consultancy firm that focuses on Africa.  He obtained his medical degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1996 and had worked in Berlin, Germany, the United Kingdom and in South Africa before he established his consulting firm in 2014.

    Dr. Aliyu is currently a Consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Cambridge University, United Kingdom.  He got his medical degree from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1993.  He worked as a medical officer at the State House Medical Centre, Abuja and from there moved to Cambridge in 1998.

    He rose through the ranks until he became a Consultant in Microbiology.

    Professor Ezemolue is currently a Professor of Paediatrics and Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.

    He got his medical degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1995.  He did his paediatric internship and residency at the Howard University, Washington DC, USA and obtained his Fellowship in Paediatric Infectious Disease from New Jersey Medical School.

    He moved to Nevada in 2005 where he remains to date practicing Paediatric medicine.
    Professor Yusuf is currently a Professor of Paediatrics at St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, United Sates of America.

    He graduated in medicine from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and worked in the University Teaching Hospital from 1984 – 1989.

    Professor Yusuf worked in the United Kingdom from 1990 – 1995 from where he moved first to South Carolina, USA, where he rose to become a fellow in Paediatric Hematology/Oncology in 1998.

    He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the West African College of Physicians and the American Academy of Physicians.

  • Jonathan under attack over new appointments

    Jonathan under attack over new appointments

    My removal as UI
    pro-chancellor rude, says Adebayo

    NIPC boss sacked

    Pesident Goodluck Jonathan has been told some home truths about the wave of new appointments and removals.

    He should be courteous, elder statesman and war hero Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo said. The 87-year-old former Western Region governor is displeased at the manner of his removal as University of Ibadan (UI) pro-chancellor.

    After his March 28 electoral loss, President Jonathan has gone on a strange sacking spree. He has also been making appointments, insisting that he is still in charge till May 29.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against the last-minute action.

    Undaunted, the President yesterday removed the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar.

    A statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, which announced her removal, named Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba as the new Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of NIPC.

    Gen. Adebayo, who was eased out of his post less than two years into a four-year tenure , deplored the manner of his removal.

    In a letter to President Jonathan, which our correspondent obtained, Gen. Adebayo also fingered Minister of Education Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in the “discourteous” and “disrespectful” way he was treated.

    The 87-year-old father of former Ekiti State Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, admonished the President to imbibe the culture of respecting elders in addition to demonstrating civility in his public conduct if given the chance to rule the country again or to be in any leadership role.

    Until his controversial removal via a published newspaper advertisement, the former military governor of the defunct Western Region was the chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan (UI).

    The letter, dated May 7, also berated Jonathan for not having the courage to inform Gen. Adebayo of his removal considering how he was prevailed upon to accept the appointment.

    He got wind of his removal through the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the institution.

    The letter reads: “I am constrained to express my most profound dismay at the rather unceremonious manner I came to be informed of my removal as chairman of the governing council of the University of Ibadan. Indeed it was communicated to me by the vice chancellor and registrar, when they visited me at my residence in Lagos.

    “I was informed that the Hon. Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau had caused an advertorial to be published in The Guardian Newspaper of Thursday, the 30th of April, announcing the appointment of members of the governing council of twelve (12) new federal universities and four (4) new federal polytechnics, as well as the chairmanship change for the University of Ibadan.

    “In effect, through that publication, I had been relieved of my duties as Pro Chancellor and another person had been appointed in my stead without the courtesy of even a phone call.

    “At the risk of sounding immodest, I must say that I do not deserve such indecorous treatment from your Minister of Education, who I believe must have acted with a measure of approval from you or your office.

    “However, as an elder and given the fact that you and some of my children are age mates, I feel an obligation to admonish you to be courteous in your approach to governance.

    “True your time in office is short, but who knows, providence may yet again smile on you, and you might once again mount the saddle of leadership. Whenever this happens and even if it never does, my prayer for you is that you imbibe the culture of civility in your future endeavours.

    “This abrupt termination of my tenure, while being seen as a welcome respite by my children and grand children, is all the same quite demeaning of my person.”

    Shekarau last month announced the appointments of members of the governing council of 12 new federal universities and four new federal polytechnics, as well as the chairmanship change for the University of Ibadan.

    The governing boards have since been inaugurated. A new pro-chancellor had been appointed for the premier university.

    Also sacked by the president after his electoral defeat are Inspector General of Police Sunday Abba; Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC) Gbenga Elegbeleye;  Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas – Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi and Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Mrs Sharon Kasali. They were all replaced.

    There were comments yesterday on the President’s actions.

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP) and a senator-elect, Comrade Shehu Sani, condemned the “last-minute” appointments being made by President Jonathan.

    They said the appointments were in bad faith to create landmines for President- elect Muhammadu Buhari.

    The CNPP, which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Osita Okechukwu, said it was unethical for the President to make such appointments when he has technically become a lame-duck leader.

    Okechukwu said: “It is unethical to make such appointments. Although the President may be hiding under the law, the ethics of the presidential system  does not allow it.

    “In America, from where we copied the presidential system, once it is one year or six months to the presidential election, you become a lame-duck president. You cannot order or initiate a drastic policy. You are now restricted.

    “Jonathan’s actions are unethical and suspicious of laying landmines for the incoming administration. Decency portends that whatever you did not do in office for five years, you cannot do it overnight.

    “As a loser of an election, the best Jonathan can do is to tidy up his files for the incoming administration instead of embarking on reckless appointments a month or two weeks to his exit. All he is doing is in bad faith.

    “Jonathan seems to be confirming the narratives that some forces attempted to stop the announcement of the results of the March 28 presidential election.”

    Rights activist Sani said Jonathan was using the belated appointments to vent his anger against those he felt betrayed him.

    He also said Jonathan was manifesting a sign of frustration after political undertakers had failed him.

    Sani said: “President Goodluck Jonathan’s last-minute hiring and firing policy is aimed at venting his anger against those whom he felt betrayed him and at the same time planting new lackeys who will act as fifth columnist and internal saboteurs for the incoming administration.

    “Behind the facade of a ‘heroic leader who accepted defeat and congratulated President-elect Buhari’ GEJ is a disappointed and frustrated man who felt betrayed after torrents of assurances by his friends, hangers on and political undertakers who led him to the grave of his political career.

    “GEJ built his tower of dream for  second term from a foundation of political deceit and perfidy.

    “GEJ’s exit plan is to create and leave behind stooges whose activities in the next government will make Nigerians turn back to appreciate GEJ

    “President GEJ is a wounded lion who is in a traumatic state of confusing smile for a jest and even a handshake as a mockery.”