…Olorunnimbe named NCC Chairman as Tijani chairs USPF Board
…Appointments target stronger telecom regulation and rural ICT access
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the composition of the governing boards of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), both of which operate under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. According to the statement, Idris Olorunnimbe has been appointed Chairman of the NCC, while Dr Aminu Wada retains his role as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Wada was first appointed to the position by President Tinubu in October 2023, with Senate confirmation following in November 2023. Olorunnimbe, a former member of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Board, chaired the Stakeholder and Governance Committee during his tenure there and was instrumental in advancing youth employment and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Other members of the NCC board are Mr Abraham Oshidami, Executive Commissioner for Technical Services; Ms Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management; Hajia Maryam Bayi, former Director of Human Capital and Administration; Col Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd); Senator Lekan Mustafa; Mr Chris Okorie; Princess Oforitsenere Emiko; and the Board Secretary.
For the USPF board, President Tinubu approved Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, as Chairman, with Idris Olorunnimbe serving as Vice Chairman. Other members include Mr Abraham Oshidami, Ms Rimini Makama, Mr Aliyu Edogi Aliyu (representing the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy), Mr Joseph B. Faluyi (representing the Federal Ministry of Finance), Mr Auwal Mohammed (representing the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning), Mr Uzoma Dozie, Mr Peter Bankole, Mr Abayomi Anthony Okanlawon, Mr Gafar Oluwasegun Quadri, and the USPF Secretary.
The Federal Government set up the USPF to promote universal access to information and communications technologies in rural, unserved, and underserved communities nationwide, in alignment with national policy objectives aimed at narrowing Nigeria’s digital divide.
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