Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, has presented a letter of appointment to the new Managing Director of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), Prof. Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam .
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, Prince Audu expressed confidence in Prof. Abdulsalam’s ability to lead Ajaokuta Steel Company in alignment with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to revive the moribund steel plant.
“I congratulate the newly appointed Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Prof. Nasir Abdulsalam, a seasoned academician and Professor of Geophysics and someone well acquainted with the steel sector, having served as my Technical Adviser prior to this appointment” he stated
“Reviving Ajaokuta Steel Plant is a collective project. It is not something the Minister, Permanent Secretary, or Managing Director can achieve alone. All hands must be on deck as it requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to realise Mr. President’s vision for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant and the broader steel sector” Audu stressed.
The Minister also extended his appreciation to the outgoing Acting Sole Administrator, Mr. Kanwai Joseph, commending his dedication to duty all through his almost 35 years of service at the Steel Plant where he rose from an entry level engineer to the healm of affairs at the Steel Plant as acting Sole Administrator in the last six months.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chris Isokponwu, also congratulated Prof. Abdulsalam on his appointment, urging him to prepare for the enormous task ahead while assuring him of the Ministry’s full support.
“It will not be an easy task; you are facing a challenge of over 45 years. The good news is that you have a Minister who is fully committed to the success of Ajaokuta’s revival,” Dr. Isokponwu stated.
In his response, the incoming Sole Administrator of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, Prof. Nasir Abdulsalam expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with this significant responsibility and thanked the Minister for his support and collaborative spirit.
“Our fundamental goal is to work together to realise Mr. President’s vision for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant. I am fully prepared to deliver on this mandate with the support of the Minister, the Permanent Secretary, and the entire team at the Ministry of Steel Development. I pray and I am confident that Ajaokuta will come alive in our time,” Prof. Abdulsalam stated.
By Georgina Humphrey
