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Makama, Amah Join Microsoft Nigeria
Microsoft Nigeria has appointed two new executives to its senior leadership team as Ms. Rimini Haraya Makama joins as the company’s Corporate Affairs Director while Mr. Ifeanyi Amah, is now its new Chief Technology Officer.
Before her appointment, Makama served as the Communications Director, Africa Practice, where she successfully introduced some of the largest international institutions in EMEA into the Nigerian market whilst simultaneously helping to strategically position them as key players in their industries and encouraging foreign investment in the country.
Prior to Africa Practice, she was the Principal Legal Assistant at the International Criminal Police Organization – ICPO – INTERPOL in Lyon, France.
As Corporate Affairs Director, Makama will be responsible for managing the development and implementation of Microsoft’s public policy initiatives throughout Nigeria at national and local levels as they relate to the company’s strategic partnerships with a mission to deliver a regulatory and reputational environment.
In this role, she will also forge and deepen the company’s relationships with government elites, regulatory bodies, the legislature, international organization and academia.
She will align closely with Microsoft’s already existing Public Sector, Developer, Education and Citizenship teams to meet the company’s common objectives with the Government.
Speaking on her appointment, she said, “I am excited to be joining Microsoft at a time where it is positioning to lead the 4th Industrial revolution. I am particularly delighted to be leveraging my skills and expertise to contribute effectively to position Nigeria as part of the new digital economy.”
Makama holds an LLB from the University of Jos, Nigeria, an LLM in International Law & World Order from the University of Reading, UK, and CIM Diploma from the London School of Marketing. She is also Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In 2014, she was recognized by Forbes as one of the 20 Youngest Power Women under 40 in Africa.
Amah has over 18 years of experience in engineering operations, sales and marketing from various ICT companies in Nigeria where he held several leadership positions.
Prior to joining Microsoft, he was the Group Executive Director of ipNX Nigeria Limited where he served as both the strategic business development manager for the group and Managing Director (MD) of ipNX Network Service Division.
In his capacity has the MD, he was responsible for driving the transformation of the company from an ISP to a multi-service provider pivoting ipNX to become the first fibre to the home (FTTH) broadband company offering ‘triple play’ services to both corporate and retail consumers in Nigeria.
Amah also had a stint at Swift Networks as one of the pioneer staff responsible for developing the company’s business plan and execution; and at iTECO Nigeria Limited (a subsidiary of Telnet Nigeria Limited) where he was responsible for setting up of the customer support and network management function for the organisation.
As Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Nigeria, he will be instrumental in developing strategic partnerships with the Federal Government as well as private corporate organisations driving the digital transformation agenda whilst ensuring that IT policies and programs continue to create required impact to improve quality of services to her customers.
Amah will serve also as the chief transformation officer assisting Microsoft customers in both public and private sector to leverage technology to make them more efficient, competitive and ensuring that Nigeria’s quest towards achieving United Nations sustainable development goals that will transform our country are met.
In this role, Amah would align closely with Microsoft’s already existing Public Sector, Legal, Developer, Education and Philanthropies teams to develop policies and programs to meet the company’s common objectives with the Government. He would also be responsible for forging and deepening Microsoft’s relationships with technology elites including the CIO Community and Academia.
Amah holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree in Communications Engineering, an MBA from Lagos Business School and also a GMP from the prestigious Harvard Business School.
He has presented papers at Capacity Africa, AfricaCom, NigeriaCom conferences and has been a special guest to other International media, information and technology events around the world.
“I am excited to be joining at such a critical time in the lifecycle of Nigeria where leveraging technology to empower citizens, improve security, create employment and improve efficiency in governance are at the core of the country’s strategic focus. My mission will be to help this digital transformation by working with government to take full advantage of Microsoft technologies and business solutions to improve the quality of life of Nigerian citizens,” he said.
Atte Ayodeji, a Nigerian computer scientist,has developed an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting, counting, grouping and generating healthy hair follicles during hair transplant procedures, an innovation that earned him the Best Innovative Technology award.
Atte Ayodeji
Ayodeji also graduated with a Distinction in his Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Birmingham City University on Friday, adding another milestone to an impressive academic year.
Beyond his award-winning hair transplant innovation, the Nigerian researcher developed a system and framework on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as a professional responsibility in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
His dissertation received a silver award at the PGXPO2026 Winter, further highlighting the impact of his research in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare.
Sunday Dare, special adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, celebrated Ayodeji’s achievements in a post on X, recalling how he first met him in 2019 during his National Youth Service.
“In 2019 when I became a Minister of the Republic, I met a young man of medium height, genteel with penetrating eyes: Atte Ayodeji. His words rarely come out and he could easily be passed by unnoticed. But I noticed him especially when my SA Kemi Areola brought him to me asking my approval for him to do his Youth Service in my office. I approved. From then on he was unstoppable. His brilliance shown and he developed skills beyond his frame.”
Highlighting Ayodeji’s recent accomplishments, Dare congratulated him saying, “Congratulations Atte. I am proud of you!”
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power, has said that the federal government plans to end power sector subsidies from 2027 and that there are no immediate plans for tariff increases.
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power
The minister told journalists during the media interactive session at the weekend that the government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of efforts to address mounting liabilities in the power sector.
He explained that the planned removal forms part of the broader reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector, while tackling the financial challenges confronting the industry.
According to the minister, despite the planned subsidy withdrawal, there are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, reassuring consumers that the government is not considering a tariff hike in the short term.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
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