The Management and Staff of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), mourns the passing of its pioneer Governing Board Chairman, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Ernest Shonekan GCFR, CBE who died on Tuesday,  January 11, 2022.  On account of his inspiring leadership and guidance, he laid the foundation that has placed the Commission as the preeminent infrastructure regulatory agency in Nigeria.

In his time as Chairman of ICRC’s Governing Board, between 2008 – 2012, some of the key institutional structures he laid, which have endured over the years  include:

• Issuance of the National Policy on Public Private Partnership (N4P) following approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in April 2009. The N4P sets out the policy objectives of the federal government and outlines government’s commitment to the creation of an enabling environment for PPPs to thrive in Nigeria.
• Formation and establishment of the Nigerian Public Private Partnership Network (NPPPN) in 2011. This Network has as its members, all Heads of State Public Private Partnership (PPP) units. The NPPPN was established as a collaborative platform for knowledge and experience sharing amongst PPP agencies at the Federal and sub-national level.
• Establishment of an African PPP Network (AP3N) in 2011 to serve as a regional platform for sharing experiences, peer-learning and development of best practices for PPP projects in Africa. The inaugural meeting of the network held in Abuja in February 2012 with eight countries in attendance.

Chief Shonekan bagged a law degree from the University of London in 1962 and was called to the English bar in the same year. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1963 and later attended an Advanced Management Programme at the Harvard Business School USA.

Shonekan joined the UAC of Nigeria Ltd in 1964 as Legal Assistant and rose through the ranks to become Head of Legal and Secretarial Services in 1975. He was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the company in 1976 and subsequently became Chairman and Managing Director from 1980 – 1993. In 1993, he became the Head of the Interim National Government.

Chief Shonekan was an illustrious Nigerian, elder statesman and astute businessman. His gentle disposition, unassuming personality and comportment despite his privileged position and access within the Nigerian political and economic elite class was a source of inspiration to stakeholders within the infrastructure space in Nigeria.

Manji Yarling

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity