President Tinubu Overhauls Leadership at NECO and NBTE; Appoints New Plateau Poly Rector and Renews National Library DG Tenure for 2027 Strategic Goals

In a major move to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today, April 22, 2026, approved a series of high-level appointments across the nation’s examination and technical education bodies. The decision, communicated via a statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is described as a strategic effort to enhance the governance and efficiency of institutions critical to the administration’s human capital development goals.

At the National Examinations Council (NECO), the President appointed Prof. Modupe Adeola Adelabu to chair the Governing Board. Prof. Adelabu, a retired professor of educational administration and former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, brings significant experience to the role, having previously chaired the NBTE between 2018 and 2021. To maintain administrative consistency during the transition, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi will continue in his role as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) also received a new board chairman in Prof. Babatunde Salako. Prof. Salako is a globally recognized researcher who recently concluded a successful tenure as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. His appointment is expected to provide fresh policy leadership for the nation’s polytechnics and technical colleges, complementing the recent reappointment of the board’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje.

Further down the tertiary education ladder, Dr. Bongfa Binfa was named the substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam in Plateau State. Dr. Binfa, a mechanical engineering expert and former Deputy Rector at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, emerged following a competitive selection process. His five-year term officially begins this month, with a mandate to expand the institution’s research capabilities and industry linkages.

Finally, the Presidency confirmed the tenure renewal of Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi at the National Library of Nigeria. The administration noted that Prof. Anunobi’s second term is essential for the completion of the long-awaited National Library Headquarters project in Abuja and the full implementation of the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. These appointments collectively signal a preference for continuity in specialized roles while introducing seasoned administrative heavyweights to lead governing councils as the government gears up for the 2027 transition cycle.