Idris Olorunnimbe named NCC board chair — months after withdrawal of UBEC appointment

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Idris Olorunnimbe, the founder of The Temple, as chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Olorunnimbe was previously appointed as the board chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in March, but his appointment was withdrawn in July and was replaced with Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa.

According to a statement on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and Strategy, Tinubu also retained Aminu Waida as executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of NCC.

Tinubu had appointed Waida as the EVC in October 2023, and the senate confirmed the appointment in November same year.

“Olorunnimbe previously served on the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Board, where he chaired the Stakeholder and Governance Committee and drove impactful youth employment and entrepreneurship programmes,” Onanuga said.

“Members of the board include Abraham Oshidami, executive commissioner, technical services: Rimini Makama, executive commissioner, stakeholder management; Maryam Bayi, former director, human capital & administration and ⁠ ⁠Cornel Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd).

“Others are Lekan Mustafa, Chris Okorie and Princess Oforitsenere Emiko and the secretary of the NCC Board.”

Onanuga also said the president approved Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, as chairman and Idris Olorunimbe as vice chairman, board of the USPF.

“Other members are; Abraham Oshidami, Rimini Makama, Aliyu Edogi Aliyu – (Rep FMCIDE), Joseph B Faluyi (Rep. of Federal Ministry of Finance), Auwal Mohammed (Rep. of FMBNP), Uzoma Dozie, Peter Bankole, Abayomi Okanlawon, Gafar Quadri and the USPF secretary,” the statement added.

According to Onanuga, the federal government established the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and service to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural, unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria.