Tinubu reshuffles education sector, appoints new NECO and NBTE chairpersons
President Bola Tinubu has announced fresh appointments to key education agencies, naming new chairpersons for the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Modupe Adelabu was appointed chairperson of NECO’s governing board, while Ibrahim Wushishi will continue in his role as the council’s registrar.
Tinubu also named Bongfa Binfa as rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, and appointed Babatunde Salako as chairman of the NBTE governing board. In addition, the tenure of Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as director-general of the National Library of Nigeria has been renewed for a final five-year term.
The statement noted that Idris M. Bugaje had earlier been reappointed on April 10 as executive secretary of NBTE for a second and final five-year tenure.
Adelabu, the new NECO board chair, is a retired professor of educational administration at Obafemi Awolowo University. She previously served as deputy governor of Ekiti State between 2013 and 2014 and was chairman of NBTE from 2018 to 2021.
Salako, now chairman of NBTE’s governing board, is described as a seasoned researcher with extensive experience in higher education, institutional governance and policy development.
Binfa succeeds Mukaila Zakari Ya’u, the pioneer rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, whose tenure ended on March 16, 2026. His appointment followed a recruitment process advertised in national newspapers in September 2025, and he will serve a single five-year term.
Binfa holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and previously served as deputy rector (academic) at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny. He also lectured at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah.
Onanuga said the renewal of Anunobi’s tenure is aimed at ensuring continuity in ongoing reforms, completing the National Library headquarters project, and implementing the institution’s 2025–2030 strategic plan.
