A former presidential aspirant in the 2023 general election representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Moses Ayom, has praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for Nigeria-China’s renewed strategic partnership.
During President Tinubu’s state visit to Beijing in early September, Nigeria and China signed multiple agreements aimed at establishing a comprehensive bilateral relationship focused on economic and development interests.
Ayom, who has been conferred with the honorary title of ‘Outstanding Advocate’ by the Chinese government, expressed confidence that Tegbe, a first-class civil engineering graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, would be an excellent fit for this crucial diplomatic role.
In a statement he signed on Monday, Ayom remarked, “I have no doubt that Mr. Tegbe will leverage his extensive experience and expertise as a Chartered Accountant and a reputable engineer to effectively collaborate with Chinese partners, ensuring that the deliverables from the agreements signed between Nigeria and China align with the national development goals of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He further noted that the timely appointment of a global liaison demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s genuine commitment to seizing the opportunities presented by President Xi Jinping’s pledge of $51 billion in new financing for African nations during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Ayom added, “Nigeria’s ability to strategically access a significant portion of the funds provided by China will undoubtedly aid the Nigerian government in executing critical infrastructure projects across the country, positively impacting many lives.”
The former presidential aspirant also called on President Tinubu to create a conducive working environment to enable Tegbe to successfully fulfill his bilateral responsibilities.