On January 12, 2023, Ajuri Ngalale, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, announced the appointment of 11 new directors for the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy (FMACCE). These are their names and new roles.
Tola Akerele — Director-General, National Theatre
Tola Akerele has built successful businesses that have contributed to contemporary African art. She founded Bogobiri House, an Afrocentric and artistic hotel with an art gallery, restaurant and bar. Alongside being the curator at Soto Gallery, Tola also owns an interior design studio called iDesign by Tola Akelere. With a solid resume in arts, culture and creativity, it’s not hard to see why the direction of the national theatre has been entrusted with her.
Husseini Shaibu — Director-General, National Films and Censors Board
The new director of the National Films and Censors Board is Husseini Shaibu, the deputy national director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, an editor at The Guardian newspaper and a film critic. He’s also been a member of the jury board of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee.
Obi Asika — Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture
Anyone who’s familiar with the Nigerian music industry must know Obi Asika is a major contributor to the sector. Not only did his Storm Records platform OG Afrobeats artists like Sasha P, Naeto C, Jazzman Olofin and Yung 6ix, becoming one of Nigeria’s biggest labels to date, but Obi’s ten-episode Afrobeats documentary, Journey of the Beats (2022) on Showmax, also visualised the genre’s history and global movement. He served as a Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan and was once part of the African Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in the U.S.
Aisha Adamu Augie — Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture
Aisha Adamu Augie is an Abuja-based award-winning photographer, filmmaker and mixed media artist. She won the Sisterhood Award for Photographer of the Year and the British Council’s “Through My Eyes” competition in 2014. The same year, Aisha hosted “Alternative Evil”, her first solo photography exhibition. When she’s not hosting the podcast, “I Love Your Work with Aisha Augie”, she’s performing governmental roles. She was a Special Adviser to Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, from 2019 to 2023.
Ekpolador-Ebi Koinyan — Chief Conservator, National War Museum
The National War Museum is the only museum that showcases military history in West Africa, and Ekpolador-Ebi Koinyan is its new chief conservator. Before his appointment, he headed the Bayelsa State Government’s e-Governance Project, and he’s a senior partner at Smart Alliance Consulting, examining the operations of professional service firms in emerging markets.
Ahmed Sodangi — Director-General, National Gallery of Art
Ahmed Sodangi is an experienced expert in the import and export industry, and a project officer at the Bank of Industry Ltd. Although he’s an unfamiliar name, we’re investing a little faith in this president’s appointee.
Chaliya Shagaya — Director-General, National Institute of Archeology and Museum Studies
Chaliya Shagaya is an entrepreneur, fashion consultant and ex-mode who’s consulted for respected designers like Deola Sagoe and Korto Momolu. Ms Shayaga served as the former head of new media at Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and head of government relations at the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX). We look forward to her contribution to preserving our artefacts and museums — and possibly, giving us our Afrobeats Museum?
Khaltume Bulama Gana — Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria
Kaltume Bulama Gana is the curator of the National Gallery of Art, an artist who’s showcased her work at more than 45 group and solo exhibitions. She was an assistant director in the History and Culture Bureau in 1987, and before that, she was a TV presenter at Kano State Television from 1985 to 1986. She runs Herwa Heart of Art Initiative, an NGO focused on educating children, including young girls and women affected by Boko Haram’s insurgency. We hope she excels in her new role.
Biodun Ajiboye — Director-General, National Institute for Cultural Orientation
Biodun Ajiboye has worked in media, publicity and campaigns for the All Progressive Congress (APC) political party and in the Nigerian telecommunication industry. He owned the now defunct Nigerian Telecoms News and the Nigerian Telecoms Awards.
Ali Nuhu — Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation
Ali Nuhu is among the most decorated actors in the Hausa film industry. With over 22 years in the film industry, he’s not a new face to lovers of Kannywood and Nollywood. If you want a problem solved, call on those with firsthand experience in it. We guess that’s what President Tinubu did with this appointment.
Ramatu Abonbo Mohammed — Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments
Ramatu Mohammed Abonbo was Niger State’s former commissioner of commerce, industry and investment. Before her involvement in politics, Ramatu was Chief Marketing Executive at MicroAccess Ltd., a pioneer information and communication firm through which Nigeria’s first national website and the National Hospital’s first website were built. She was also the director of Hamble Group, London. Although her CV isn’t related, we look forward to see how her past successes in executive leadership transfers to her new role.
