Senate Confirms Cosmas Akyhir As Chairman, Tsenyil Yilten As MD of North Central Development Commission

……..As Engr .Dr. Atinuke Owolabi,10 Others confirmed members of the board.

Felicia Asuquo and Emmanuel lkpeama.

The Senate has confirmed Cosmas Akyhir from Benue State as the Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and Tsenyil Yilten from Plateau State as the Managing Director of the Commission.

The confirmation, which took place during Thursday’s plenary, followed the consideration and adoption of the report by the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, chaired by Senator Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-West).

Presenting the report, Senator Zam urged the Senate to approve the nominees in line with President Bola Tinubu’s request for the formation of the NCDC board.

Also confirmed as Executive Directors of the Commission were:

James Abel Uloko (Benue),Princess Atika Ajanah – Projects (Kogi),Hajia Bilgis Jumoke Sanni (Kwara),Hajia Aishatu Rujui Ibrahim(Nasarawa),Muhammad Bashar (Niger)

Other members confirmed to the board include:

Dauda Shuaibu Kigbu (Nasarawa),Zakari Haliru Jikantoro(Niger),Alhaji Sulaiman Buka Ali(Kogi),Rev. Bunmi Olusona (Kwara),Dr. Umar Ibrahim Mantu(Plateau),Engr. Atotse Abraham(Benue),Solomon Adodo(FCT),Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman(North-West),Engr. Habu Maman(North-East),Engr. Dr. Atinuke Owolabi(South-West),Rachael Kufre Nse(South-South),Chief Boniface Izziogu(South-East)

Investigator news reports that the nominations were earlier sent to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, who requested the screening and confirmation of the nominees to constitute the governing board of the Commission aimed at fostering development across the North Central zone.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s request at plenary and subsequently referred it to the relevant committee for scrutiny and report. The nominees were approved unanimously after a voice vote.

Investigator news gathered that the North Central Development Commission is tasked with addressing developmental challenges unique to the North Central states, which include Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory. Some of the commission’s key responsibilities include:Spearheading large-scale project implementation across the region,monitoring capital interventions and driving stakeholder engagement,spearheading skill acquisition programs and entrepreneurship initiative,establishing industrial hubs in strategic locations and promoting the digital economy and fostering startups in areas like fintech, e-commerce, and software development.

The NCDC is expected to drive development and address unemployment in the North Central region through these initiatives.

With the confirmed board in place, the commission can now move forward with its mandate to improve the lives of people in the region.