Prof. Akintunde Ibitayo Akinwande, nominated for the Chairmanship of
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), says he will honour an
invitation for screening by the Nigerian Senate after clearing with his
current employer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), U S A.
In a letter, dated 26th October, 2016, to the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Sen. Enyinnaya
Abaribe, sent through the Special Adviser to the President on National
Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, Prof. Akinwande said he did not turn
down the offer by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science explained that:
‘‘News reports in Nigeria that I have rejected President Buhari’s
nomination to be Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
have been brought to my attention.
‘‘I have the greatest respect for President Buhari. I am fully behind the
change he has brought and is bringing to the way Government business is
conducted in Nigeria.
‘‘I am deeply honored that Mr. President and his team thought me worthy
for this important national assignment and sought me out for it. I am a
tenured professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
‘‘As such I am contractually constrained to seek formally the
consent of the university for a leave of absence before
presenting myself to the Senate for screening and if confirmed take on the
assignment.’’
Prof. Akinwande apologized to the Senate Committee for not showing up for
the screening process scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2017, noting that
it was not out of disrespect for the institution.
The academic said he would be available for the screening after clearance
from the MIT.