The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has appointed Dr. Abdulateef Shittu as Director-General of its Secretariat. This appointment is part of sweeping reforms to strengthen the forum’s operations and strategic engagements.
The Forum, in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, said the new appointments followed a Deloitte-led organisational review aimed at repositioning the NGF Secretariat as a modern policy and resource hub for Nigeria’s 36 governors.
According to the NGF, Dr. Shittu’s elevation is expected to consolidate the Secretariat’s reform drive, enhance interstate collaboration, and deepen its role as a trusted coordination centre.
Other key appointments include Mr. Edmund O. Nnaji as Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Professor Dauda Olalekan Yinusa as Executive Director of Policy, Strategy, and Research, and Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab as Executive Director of Programmes and Partnerships.
Barr. Chuku Chijioke Chuku was appointed as General Counsel and Head of Energy; Mrs. Hauwa Haliru-Hassan was appointed as Director of Gender Affairs and CEO of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum; Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina was appointed Senior Security Adviser, and Mr. Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi was appointed Director of Media and Strategic Communication.
The Forum said the restructuring signalled a deliberate shift towards a more agile and results-driven institution, capable of delivering high-impact programmes, strengthening partnerships, and responding to Nigeria’s evolving governance landscape.
“These structural alignments and new appointments further consolidate the Secretariat’s technical depth and sectoral expertise, ensuring stronger programme delivery, cross-cutting policy coordination, and more robust engagement with member states and partners,” the statement added.
The NGF described the changes as part of its renewed commitment to building a high-performing, multidisciplinary leadership team capable of tackling governance challenges ranging from economic reforms and security to human capital development and public communication.
