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In a ceremony held today at the Ministry for Industry, Trade and Investment, the Honourable Minister, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of various agencies and parastatals under the ministry’s supervision. Among the distinguished individuals inaugurated was Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, FCA, who assumed the position of Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).
The Honourable Minister, addressing the newly appointed executives, emphasized the critical role they play in realising the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She expressed confidence in their abilities, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed them based on their competence and capacity to drive positive change within their respective agencies.
The Minister outlined the key priorities aligned with the government’s 8-point agenda, including food security, poverty alleviation, economic growth, job creation, access to capital, inclusivity, security, rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts. She stressed the need for the CEOs to align their agencies with these priorities and highlighted that their performance would be periodically assessed based on these key areas.
Furthermore, the Honourable Minister emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, urging the newly inaugurated CEOs to adhere strictly to public service rules and regulations. She warned against any compromise of the government’s anti-corruption stance and pledged consequences for any form of corrupt practices within their agencies.
In his response, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence reposed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister. He pledged to leverage his extensive professional background, including his previous role as the Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Imo State Internal Revenue Service, to drive transformative leadership within SON.
The event also saw the inauguration of other CEOs, including Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (Corporate Affairs Commission), Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin (Industrial Training Fund), Olufemi Ogunyemi (Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority), Nonye Ayeni (Nigeria Export Promotion Council), Aisha Rimi (Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission), Bamanga Usman Jada (Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority), Charles Odii (Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria), Rabiu Olowo (Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria), Anthony Atuche, CFA (Nigeria Commodities Exchange), and Lucia Shittu (Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board).
The newly inaugurated heads of parastatals and agencies pledged their commitment to the nation’s development agenda and promised to contribute their quota towards achieving the set goals in their respective capacities. The occasion was attended by government officials, and stakeholders, marking a significant step in the Minister’s efforts to enhance efficiency and performance in key institutions within the ministry.
