Buhari’s Economic Advisory Council: Profile of the 3 Great Abusites and other members
President Muhammadu Buhari recently constituted an 8-man Economic Advisory Council, to be chaired by Prof Doyin Salami. Other members are Dr. Mohammed Sagagi (Vice-Chairman); Prof Ode Ojowu; Dr Shehu Yahaya; Dr Iyabo Masha; Prof Chukwuma Soludo; Bismark Rewane; and Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu (Secretary).
Below are the short profile of the charman and members of the team.
Dr Adedoyin SALAMI, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council
Dr. Adedoyin SALAMI was born on 4th April, 1963. He is a 1989 doctorate degree graduate in Economics of Queen Mary College, University of London. Prior to university education, he was a student at Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos between Sept., 1974 and June 1980. He successfully completed the GCE ‘A’ level in June 1981 and began undergraduate studies at Queen Mary College, University of London in Oct., 1981.
He is presently Managing Director and Head Markets Practice at KAINOS Edge Consulting Limited. In addition to his work as a Consultant, he is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University. Until June 2017, he was a full-time member of the LBS Faculty and attained the rank of Senior Fellow/Associate Professor.
Outside Nigeria, he taught on the ‘Global CEO Programme’ jointly organized by IESE Business School, Spain; Lagos Business School, Nigeria and Strathmore Business School, Kenya; He was also a member of the faculty for the ‘Doing Business in Africa’ Programme at Switzerland’s St. Gallen University’s; he’d also joined Harvard Business School’s faculty, led by Prof. Debora Spar, to deliver the executive seminar ‘Making Markets Work’ in Rwanda.
Dr Salami had established the research firm, Edward Kingston Associates (EKA), where he was a Part-time Consultant. In 2014, Edward Kingston Associates merged with Softskills Limited, another consulting firm, to form KAINOS EDGE CONSULTING, a firm that provides comprehensive data, analytical and advisory services in support of decision making.
In addition to teaching and consulting, he is involved in public policy. At the end of December 2017, he successfully completed 2 terms (4 years each) as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He had been a member of the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team during the tenure of late President Musa Yar’Adua. Presently, he is a member of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Advisory Group for Sub-Saharan Africa (AGSA).
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and had the privilege of being Co-Chair of the Central Organizing Committee for the Nigerian Economic Summit in 2009. In 2015, he served as Vice-Chairman of the APC Presidential Transition Committee for President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also sits on the board of companies which include ARM-Investment Managers Ltd., Prestige Assurance Plc., Access Pension Fund Custodian.
Mohammed Adaya Salisu
He was born on 10/02/1959 at Mamudo, Potiskum LGA, Yobe State. He holds a PhD in Economics from Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom in 1990. He bagged his MSc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri in 1986 after having graduated with a First Class (BSc) in Economics from the same university in 1982. Until his appointment, Mr Salisu was the SSAP Development Policy, Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
Other positions held included: Senior Economic Adviser to the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia from Feb-Oct 2017. CEO, Lancaster Creed Consultant Limited, Lancaster, UK from Oct 2014 –Feb.2017. Chief Economist & Head of Research, Gulf One Investment Bank, Bahrain/Saudi A. September 2007-June 2014.
Principal Research Economist, African Development Bank, Tunisia September 2004 – August 2007. Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK August 1998 -August 2004. Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK August 1990 – July 1998. Lecturer in Economics, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria September 1986 – August 1990. Graduate Assistant in Economics, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria September 1983 – August 1986. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt August 1982 – August 1983.
Charles Chukwuma Soludo
A Versatile and highly accomplished economist with over 29 years of post-doctoral professional experience in quantitative and qualitative research in the fields of development economics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, international trade, foreign direct investment and corporate finance.
A proven track record of publications in the fields of economics, business and finance, especially in the areas of economic growth, poverty reduction, trade and regional integration, foreign direct/portfolio investments, fiscal & monetary policies, PPPs, economic diversification, energy economics, environmental economics, econometrics, financial analysis, governance issues, and strategic management.
Mr Soludo was born on July 28, 1960 at Isuofia- Aguata LGA, Anambra State. Mr Soludo graduated from the university of Nigeria, Nsukka with a First-Class degree in Economics in 1984. He also bagged his Msc and PhD from the same institution in 1987 and 1989 respectively.
Mr Soludo served as a Chief Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, July 2003- May 2004. He was the Deputy Chairman/Chief Executive, National Planning Commission, August 2003- May 2004 (restructured the old Federal Office of Statistics into modern National Bureau of Statistics; rationalized non-performing parastatals of the ministry from 6 to 3, etc).
He was appointed as the Governor/Chairman of Board, Central Bank of Nigeria, May 31, 2004- June 1, 2009. Thereafter, he became the Chairman, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc: 2005- 2009 (transformed a bankrupt company to world class status that for the first time met 100% of Nigeria’s currency printing needs, etc).
He later became the Founder/Founding Chairman, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC): 2006- 2009. He was the Chairman of Drafting Committees for: National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS); and Financial System Strategy 2020 (FSS 2020) which had the vision to establish an International Financial Centre and turn Nigeria as Africa’s financial hub. He served in over 20 technical committees of the Federal Government
He was also the Alternate Governor at IMF/World Bank’s Board of Governors—2004- 2009. Until his appointment, Mr Soludo was the Chairman of Board, Anambra State Tourism and Leisure Company (ANSTAL) Ltd: 2018.
Prof. Ode Ojowu
Ode Ojowu is a Professor of Economics. He obtained a First-Class Honour’s Degree in Economics from ABU in 1974. He was employed as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Economics, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. After his NYSC in 1975, he won the AFGRAD Fellowship Award under which he completed his MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Connecticut, USA between 1975 and 1980 and returned to ABU.
Prof. Ojowu was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Benue State between 1984 and1985 under the leadership of Brig-General Atom Kpera. Between 1989 and 1991 Prof Ojowu was Consultant/Co-ordinator of Nigeria’s Industrial Master Plan sponsored by UNIDO and from 1994 to 1999 he was a member of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) with oversight function over the national budget and PTF projects under General Sani Abacha.
Between 2004 and 2005 he was a member of the Federal Executive Council with specific responsibility as the Chief Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Executive Officer of the National Planning Commission.
Upon exit from government in 2005, Professor Ojowu returned to the University of Jos from where he retired in 2007 to private life. He has however continued to work as consultant to organizations like the DFID, UNDP, the World Bank and Federal/State Governments. In 2008, he set up the Country Policy Centre (CoPoC) which he now directs. In November 2008, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Benue State University till March 2016. In 2011, Prof Ojowu was awarded the national honour of OFR.
Prof Ojowu practices farming and he is active in national and community service. Currently, Prof Ojowu is Chairman, Board of Economists of the Daily Trust Newspaper, where issues of fiscal and monetary policies, economic development and diversification and budgetary issues are analysed with recommendations routinely published for the attention of the government and other stakeholders.
Dr. Muhammad Sagagi
Dr. Muhammad Sagagi is an Economist and Development Consultant with a strong academic background and extensive private sector experience in Nigeria.
Until his appointment, Mr Sagagi was the Political Economy and Government Relations Adviser, DFID-funded Programme on Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (Mafita) in Northern Nigeria.
He obtained his PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick, Coventry, England in 1985. His M Sc. Was also in Economics from the same university in 1981. This was after he bagged a First-Class degree in Economics from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1977. He served in the State Advisory Council on Economic Management and Investment Promotion, Jigawa State Government, Nigeria (2013-2015).
He was a Special Assistant (Economic and Industrial Affairs) to the Governor, Kano State (1986-1987). Other positions held included: Director and Ag Chairman, Tropical Commercial Bank Ltd (now part of Unity Bank Plc) 1993-1994;
Chairman, Publications Committee, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria;
Member of the Governing Council, Financial Institutions Training Centre (1992- 1994); Member, Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization of the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Re. Member, NV20, 2020 (Business Environment and Competitiveness Technical Working Group,) 2009;
Member Kano State Investment Climate Committee (2011-2015); Member Kano State Economic Management Team (2011-2015).
Bismarck Jemide Rewane
Until his appointment, Mr Rewane was the Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Minimum Wage. He is also the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited. He was also the General Manager, International Merchant Bank Nig. Limited from 1989 to 1996.
He was at one time an Asst. General Manager, International Merchant Bank Nig. Limited from 1986 to 1989. Just as he was the Deputy Manager (Credit), The First National Bank of Chicago from 1976 to 1989.
Mr Rewane graduated from the University of Ibadan with a B.Sc. in Economics [Monetary] in 1972. He is an Associate of The Institute of Bankers, (England & Wales) (ACIB) since 1975 and a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Bankers. In 1982, Mr Rewane pioneered the commencement of indigenous lending department at International Merchant Bank, this included setting up a Credit Analysis, preview, review, commitment and disbursement system for loans to African owned companies.
Dr. Shehu Yahaya
Dr yahaya is the Chairman of the Development Bank of Nigeria, a position he has been occupying since 2017. He was also an Interim Chief Executive Officer for the Bank from May 2015 to January 2017.
He was also a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)of the Nigerian Central Bank from 2010 to 2016; as well as member, Economic Advisors, from 2017 to date.
He also served as the Executive Director and Dean of the Board of Directors, African Development Bank (ADB), and Served as the Chair of the Board Committee on Development Effectiveness.
Mr Yahaya bagged his PhD in 1989 on Industrial Economics from the University of Sussex, U.K. His first and second degrees were all in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1983 and 1977 respectively.
Iyabo Masha
Iyabo Masha is a global economist with a demonstrated history of working in central banking and financial markets, economic management, international lending, finance and development. Strong focus on macroeconomic stabilization policy research and implementation.
She has worked with the International Monetary Fund since 2003 in Washington D.C. Metro Area. According to her, the assignments in more than 10 emerging markets (Asian and African countries) focus on comprehensive economic management including: (i) policy reform advisory services and dialogue with governments (ii) financing and lending programs; (iii) analytic research and economic modeling and forecasting. Specifically, she helps design for national governments and central banks, implementable solutions specific to their circumstance.
She also ensures that key economic and financial policy reforms are focused on fiscal and debt sustainability; foreign reserve adequacy; improving the transmission mechanism of monetary policy; achieving depth, safety and soundness in the financial sector; and managing capital flow
She worked at Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department between 1998 and 2003. She also worked with the World Bank between 1997 and 1998 as well as the IRIS Center, University of Maryland at College Park as a consultant.
She is the immediate past IMF Representative for Sierra Leone.
