Tinubu makes new appointments in education sector

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made new appointments to the National Examination Council (NECO), National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), Federal Polytechnic, N’yak Shendam, Plateau State and the National Library of Nigeria, all institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education.

President Tinubu has appointed Prof. Modupe Adeola Adelabu Chairman of the Board of Directors of NECO and retained the current Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi.

The President also appointed Eng. Dr Bongfa Binfa as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, Plateau State; and renewed the appointment of Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria.

For the presidency of the National Council of Technical Education (NBTE), President Tinubu has nominated distinguished academician, Professor Babatunde Salako.

On April 10, President Tinubu reappointed the incumbent Executive Secretary, Professor Idris M Bugaje, for a second and final five-year term.

Professor Adelabu, who chairs NECO, is a retired professor of educational administration who rose through the ranks to become a full professor at Obafemi Awolowo University.

She was a former deputy governor of Ekiti state (2013-2014) and president of NBTE between 2018 and 2021.

Prof. Babatunde Salako, the new president of the NBTE, is a globally respected researcher with decades of experience in higher education, institutional governance and national political leadership.

He previously served as Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) from 2016 to 2024, a period during which the institute experienced significant revitalization, improved research governance, expanded international collaborations, and improved research infrastructure and outcomes.

Eng. Dr. Bongfa Binfa, from Plateau State, succeeds Dr. Mukaila Zakari Ya’u, the pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, whose tenure expired on March 16, 2026.

President Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Binfa for a single five-year term, following the conclusion of the process of appointing a new rector through a public announcement in national newspapers in September 2025.

Dr Binfa holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Prior to this appointment, Dr Binfa was the Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny.

He was also a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Idah.

President Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria for a final term of five years.

She was first mentioned on September 2, 2021.

Since assuming office, Prof. Anunobi has spearheaded several institutional reforms aimed at repositioning the National Library as a modern technology-based knowledge institution, including the development and operation of the National Archives of Nigeria, Newspaper and Magazine Locator, Index and Abstract of Nigerian Newspapers and the National Virtual Library of Nigeria.

He also played a strategic role in advancing the long-awaited completion of the National Library Headquarters project and initiating plans for the migration of heritage collections from the 34 state branches to the new headquarters in Abuja.

The President said he expects the renewal of his mandate to ensure continuity in the implementation of ongoing reforms, the completion of the National Library headquarters project and the execution of the institution’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.