Tinubu Inaugurates NNPCL Board ….Sports Stakeholders Laud President On Musa Kida’s Appointment As Chairman

 By Akeem Busari

 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, officially inaugurated the New Board of Nigeria Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja. 

The board, which is led by a renowned oil and gas technocrat, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has been saddled with  the responsibility of turning around the financial fortunes of the nation’s biggest economy mainstay. 

President Tinubu in his speech, at the inauguration, expressed  his confidence in the abilities of the newly inaugurated NNPCL board to successfully steer the ship of the most important sector of Nigeria’s economy to achieve the desired results.

The President noted that he took his time to carefully select the very best in the oil and gas sector which has continued to attract huge commendations both from within and outside Nigeria.

He was equally quick to express the expectations of the major players in the global economy including USA and others industrialized economies. 

In his acceptance remarks, on behalf of the Board, the Chairman of the NNPCL, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, noted the expectations and concerns of Nigerians and assured that they will approach their tasks with maximum efficiency, transparency and due process, in order to meet the  terms of reference set for the Board.

While noting and appreciating the confidence President Tinubu has in the board of the NNPCL, he assured  that the Board will not take Mr President’s overwhelming confidence in the Board for granted.

 “We’II always tell you the truth,” Kida, in his characteristic manner of always speaking truth to power said and went ahead to assure the President of the commitment of his board to put the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians at the premium, always.

 In the same vein and while still celebrating and appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the appointment of Kida to the exalted position of the NNPCL, some of his friends and associates, particularly stakeholders in the Nigeria sports industry, held a commemorative lunch to celebrate the appointment at the high-brow Boat Club, Ikoyi,Lagos, on the 10th of May, 2025 .

 The exclusive event was attended by top sports administrators and stakeholders that are very close to Engr Kida and included Mr Babs Ogunade, Vice-president of NBBF, Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria; Hon. Daniel Igali, President of the Wrestling Federation Of Nigeria and Commissioner for Sports, Bayelsa State, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Godwin Enakhena, the Sporting Director of Sporting Lagos FC and Hon.Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the NPFL.

Others included renowned sports administrator and Actg. President of Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria, Ms Tayo Popoola, Abubakar Lawal, Chairman of GTI/TNFF, former Chairman of Adamawa United and Former Board member of Plateau United Football Club, former Consultant of JUTH Football Club, Pioneer Board member of the Nigeria Professional Football league( NPFL & NNL), Pioneer Board member of the NNL, Pioneer Board Member of the NWFL and current National Team Manager of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Hon. Emmanuel Zira.

  In unison, they eulogised the virtues and leadership qualities of Engr. Kida, while praying for him to have a very successful and impactful tenure in his new position.