Nigerian Railway Corporation: Iloanusi Takes Over as New MD, Okhiria Bows Out

Sunday Okobi

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fridet Okhiria, has handed over duties and responsibilities of the corporation to the most senior Director in the corporation, Mr. Ben Iloanusi, after successfully completing his second four-year term tenure of office last weekend.
During the handing over ceremony, the ex-MD commended the management and staff of the corporation for the co-operation and understanding extended to him during his tenure, which he said was the bedrock of his success in running the affairs of the corporation.
Okhiria, who is an engineer, enjoined the management and staff of the corporation to extend same co-operation and understanding to the incoming acting managing director.
The corporation said that new NRC MD has solid understanding of the technology market and industry, as well as strong stake holder management skill.
During his acceptance speech at the highly emotional ceremony where testimonies were made acknowledging the vast experience, patience, compassion and fatherly role of the outgone MD, the acting MD solicited co-operation of the staff and management of the NRC to be extended to him more than that of his predecessor. He said his office is ready to accommodate constructive advice and criticism that will move the corporation forward during his tenure successfully.
A statement issued yesterday by the NRC Deputy Director Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, stated that Iloanusi, until his elevation to the post of the acting managing director, was the director of procurement of the corporation.
“He is a graduate of Political Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and MBA in International Management from the South Bank University, London.
“Iloanusi joined the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 2011 as the Deputy Director of Procurement before rising to the post of the Director Procurement in 2019,” it stated.
The statement described the new managing director as “Strong and efficient negotiator; has extensive experience of contracts drafting and post contract administration, managing the tender process, supplier, evaluation, and supplier management with pricing and evaluation models.
“He is involved in management information reporting, solid materials and inventory management best practices, e-procurement implementation and post implementation support and management.

“Iloanusi is well versed in European Union/International and Nigerian processes and regulations, has good understanding of six sigma methodology, strong and effective team management skills, strong coaching and knowledge transfer skills, including setting up procurement function from the scratch.”

The event was attended by both serving and retired management and staff of the corporation.