Who is Joseph Tegbe: Tinubu’s newly nominated Power Minister?

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

The request has already been forwarded to the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to carry out screening in line with constitutional provisions.

Tegbe’s nomination comes after the exit of Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned his position to contest an elective office in Oyo State.

Tribune Online gives a brief introduction of the newly nominated Power Minister.

Ministerial nomination

In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the presidency confirmed that the nomination has been transmitted for screening and confirmation.

The Senate is expected to begin the confirmation process in the coming days.

Early life and education

Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe was born on March 21, 1966, in Oyo Town and is of Ibadan ancestral descent, tracing his roots to Jegede Compound in the Labo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

He had his early education at St Mary’s RCM School, Oyo; Federal Government College, Ogbomoso; and the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, where he graduated with a First Class Degree in Civil Engineering in 1988.

The 60-year-old is also an alumnus of Lagos Business School, INSEAD, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCIT) and Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).

Career and professional experience

Tegbe is currently a Senior Partner and Head of Technology Advisory Services and Markets at KPMG Professional Services Nigeria, a member firm of KPMG International.

He also serves as KPMG Africa Lead for Cybersecurity practice, Public Sector and Technology, Media and Telecommunications. His experience spans about three decades across institutional transformation, sector reforms, strategy development and technology implementation.

He has worked across industries including telecommunications, financial services, manufacturing, oil and gas, and the public sector, advising the presidency, state governments and international agencies.

Public sector and industry engagements

His experience includes advisory roles in the power sector, with engagements involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.

Before his consulting career, he worked as a tax consultant and managed audit engagements across major sectors. He also served as Head of Materials Accounting at Shell Petroleum Development Company between 1991 and 1992.

He is an active member and consultant to the Infrastructure and Human Capital Development Policy Commissions of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

Leadership roles

Tegbe is Chairman of the National Council for Management Development and also chairs the Boards of Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students Association and Federal Government College Ogbomoso Old Students Association.

He is a member of the Ikoyi Club and the Ibadan Recreation Club, and serves on various corporate boards.

Personal life and philanthropy

He is a Christian of Anglican background and a member of the RCCG Jesus Embassy Parish, VGC.

He is married to Mrs Abimbola Tegbe (née Ayandipo of Ogbomoso descent), and they have two sons.

Through the Tegbe Foundation, he supports non-profit and community development initiatives across the country.

Expectations from nomination

The presidency said the nomination is expected to strengthen ongoing reforms in the power sector, with a focus on improving grid stability and attracting investment.

If confirmed, Tegbe is expected to contribute to policy implementation and address challenges in electricity supply nationwide.

According to the statement, Tegbe’s mandate is to strengthen reforms, and it points to better implementation of frameworks by agencies like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), especially on tariffs, metering and market rules.

Another challenge before Tegbe is improving grid stability and focusing on reducing outages through better coordination and upgrades, particularly within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).