President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Engineer Tukur Mohammed Lawal Funtua, a former engineer at BUA Cement Plc, to head Nigeria’s space service provider, Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT).

Engineer Funtau’s appointment, which takes immediate effect will see him succeeding Dr. Abimbola Alale, who is retiring as the Managing Director of Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), according to a statement issued today by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the space firm’s supervisory Ministry.  

Who is the new Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT?

Engineer Funtua, the statement says, was born on November 24, 1966, is an indigene of Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria. 

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, PGDM, MBA, a Professional Diploma in Education, and a PhD in Environmental and Sustainable Development Management in view, at the University of Port Harcourt. 

The new NIGCOMSAT was before his appointment, Director, health community affairs, safety and environment with BUA Cement Plc, served in various capacities including Health and Safety Manager, Country HSE Manager and Regional Manager for Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainable Development at Lafarge Africa Plc and Group Head, Environment and Community Affairs at  Dangote Cement Plc, among others.

With over 30 years of professional experience in manufacturing, process engineering, health, production, safety and environmental management, communications, and various other fields, he is also a Chartered Environmentalist at the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, and the Professional Leadership Practitioners Institute.

He is a Registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a member of numerous professional bodies and institutes. Engineer Tukur is an author and is married with children.