A NEW Acting Managing Director (MD/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has been appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
She is Dr. Christiana Atako, hitherto its Director of Education, Health and Social Services.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, conveyed the President’s decision to the NDDC’s Chairman, Dr. Tarilah Tebepah, in a letter he read at its Governing Board’s valedictory session last week.
According to the SGF, Mrs. Atako’s appointment takes effect from wesnesday (August 7). He directed the out-going MD/CEO, Dr. Chris Oboh, whose tenure has expired, to hand over all the commission’s property in his possession to her.
Atako, one of the pioneer members of staff of the NDDC, was Assistant Director and Acting Head of Community and Rural Development Directorate at the commission’s inception. Before then, she was Assistant Director and Head of Public Affairs Department of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) from 1995 to 2001. Subsequently, she became Deputy Director, Community and Rural Development; Head, Corporate Affairs and Director, Community and Rural Development.
Atako is a First Class honours graduate of English from the University of Sokoto. She also has a master’s degree, a doctorate of philosophy, with emphasis on Social Psychology, a post-graduate diploma in Public Relations as well as two post-graduate certificates in Cross-Sector Partnerships and Conflict Resolution Skills.
She is a Fellow of several professional bodies, such as Institute of Strategic Management, Certified Institute of Public Administration & Management, Certified Directors Institute, Strategic Finance & Administrative Institute, as well as Institute of Corporate Managers and Public Administrators.
She is also a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and the Institute of Management Consultants.
Atako is a recipient of numerous awards and prizes, including National Youth Service Corps Oyo State Merit Award, University of Sokoto Merit Award and American Biographical Institute’s Great Woman of the 21st century award. She is also a Goodwill Ambassador of the University of Calabar.
