In a move aimed at enhancing its institutional capacity and aligning with global best practices, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has announced a wave of new appointments across its leadership structure.
The appointments, unveiled in a statement issued late Sunday by the forum’s newly named Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Abdullahi, follow what was described as an extensive assessment of the forum’s systems, human resources, and operational frameworks. The overhaul, Abdullahi said, is geared towards strengthening the NGF’s strategic focus and ensuring it remains on course with its mission of effective governance support.
At the helm of the new leadership is Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, who has been confirmed as the Director General of the NGF Secretariat. Supporting him in the executive team is Mr. Edmund Nnaji, who now takes over as Executive Director,
Finance and Administration.
In what appears to be a calculated reinforcement of the NGF’s policy and programmatic architecture, Prof. Dauda Olalekan Yinusa— a first-class Economics graduate and professor at Obafemi Awolowo University—has been appointed Executive Director of Policy, Strategy and Research. Joining him on the top-tier team is Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab, who steps into the role of Executive Director, Programs and Partnerships. Dr. Abdulwahab previously served as the Executive Director, Health Advisor, a role in which he led significant reforms and coordinated high-impact World Bank-supported programmes, including NG-CARES and the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) initiative.
Another significant addition is Barr. Chuku Chijioke Chuku, a legal and governance expert with over two decades of experience in law, policy, and institutional development. He has been named General Counsel and Head of Energy. His role will involvenavigating the complex intersections of energy policy, legal reform, and governance issues that often define Nigeria’s energy sector.
Mrs. Hauwa Haliru-Hassan has been appointed Director of Gender Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF). Her inclusion signals a heightened focus on gender advocacy and the integration of gender-sensitive policies across the NGF’s engagements.
Security, another critical area in the forum’s expanding mandate, will now be overseen by Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina, a respected security strategist and conflict resolution expert. He joins the team as the Senior Security Adviser, bringing with him a wealth of experience in managing complex security dynamics across Nigeria.
Yunusa Abdullahi, who now leads the NGF’s communications arm, is a veteran journalist and media strategist. Prior to his appointment, he served as Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning from 2019 to 2023, and also held the position of Director of Special Duties at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria. An alumnus of the University of Southern…, Abdullahi is expected to drive the forum’s media strategy with renewed focus on public engagement and transparency.
According to the NGF, these appointments are designed to deepen the technical expertise of the secretariat and improve the delivery of programs across sectors.
The forum believes the new leadership will enable more effective cross-sector coordination and stronger engagement with both member states and development partners.
“These appointments underscore the NGF’s commitment to building a high-performing, multidisciplinary leadership team capable of addressing Nigeria’s complex governance challenges—ranging from economic transformation and security to human capital development and effective public communication,” the statement concluded.
