President Tinubu Appoints Ayo Sotinrin as Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture and Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam as MD of Ajaokuta Steel Company

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced two key appointments aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial sectors.

Ayo Sotinrin Appointed Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture

President Tinubu has appointed Mr. Ayo Sotinrin as the new Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, effective immediately. The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a State House press release.

Mr. Sotinrin brings a wealth of experience from both the private and public sectors. Prior to this role, he served as Group Chief Executive Officer of SAO Group, where he spearheaded major agricultural initiatives, including a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava operations in Ondo State.

He also led SAO Capital, securing over $750 million in infrastructure financing, including the $200 million Akure Water Supply Project. In the public sector, he was Special Adviser (Environment & Urban Development) to the Minister of State for the FCT (2011–2015). Additionally, he has consulted for global institutions such as the World Bank, AfDB, DFID, and USAID, and held roles at Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency.

A graduate of Oxford University’s Said Business School (Executive MBA), Warwick University (Master’s in Engineering Business Management), and holder of an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation, Sotinrin’s appointment aligns with the Tinubu administration’s agenda to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

President Tinubu emphasized that Sotinrin’s expertise in capital mobilization and agribusiness innovation will be pivotal in repositioning the Bank of Agriculture as a driver of food security and rural prosperity.

Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam Appointed MD of Ajaokuta Steel Company

In a separate announcement, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam as Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company, effective April 3, 2025. The appointment was confirmed in a statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Abdulsalam previously served as Technical Adviser to the Minister of Steel Development and Special Assistant (Academics) to the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

President Tinubu charged Abdulsalam to leverage his expertise in the steel industry to revolutionize Ajaokuta Steel Company, fostering industrial and economic growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. The President emphasized the company’s potential to position Nigeria as Africa’s industrial hub through upstream and downstream economic activities.

Both appointments underscore the administration’s commitment to strengthening key sectors for national development.

Source: Isaac Daniel