NASARAWA State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, was decorated as the Grand Patron of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office during the inauguration of state coordinators in May 2026, weeks before the organisation was exposed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as an allegedly unrecognised government outfit.
The development came after state governments had, at various points in 2025, received letters from the organisation requesting the nomination and appointment of coordinators to represent their respective states.
News Point Nigeria reports that on Friday, President Bola Tinubu ordered the arrest of Nwabueze Buchi George, identified as the Executive Director/National Coordinator of the organisation, following an ICPC investigation which found that the outfit was operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without presidential authorisation.
Findings by this newspaper revealed that the Made in Nigeria Project Office sent letters to at least 15 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), asking them to nominate state coordinators.
The letters were titled: “REQUEST FOR NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF A STATE COORDINATOR FOR THE MADE IN NIGERIA PROJECT OFFICE.”
A source familiar with the development told this newspaper that some state governments initially took no action on the requests to nominate state coordinators.
After receiving no response, the organisation sent multiple reminder letters to the state governments.
This newspaper understands that by January 2026, some state governments had received three separate letters signed by George, requesting that they submit the names of their nominees.
In one of the letters seen by this newspaper, the organisation said the appointment of state coordinators was “critical to strengthening collaboration between the Federal Project Office and State Government in promoting local production.”
“I am directed to respectfully write as a Third Reminder to Your Excellency on our earlier correspondences requesting the nomination and appointment of a State Coordinator to represent the state in the Made in Nigeria Project Office,” the letter signed by George reads.
“The appointment of State Coordinators is critical to strengthening collaboration between the Federal Project Office and State Government in promoting local production, empowering SMIEs, advancing industrial growth, and ensuring active State participation in National and International Trade and Investment Engagements.
“We kindly seek Your Excellency’s prompt consideration by forwarding the details of a suitable nominee to enable formal confirmation and the issuance of an appointment letter from our office.”
Another source privy to the organisation’s activities said most state governments eventually nominated aides or members of their executive councils.
This newspaper understands that the state governments were under the impression that the Made in Nigeria Project Office was genuine, particularly because some officials of the OSGF appeared to be involved with its activities.
“When you analyse what ICPC reported, they stated that there was collusion between the leadership of the project and some permanent secretaries within OSGF,” a source said.
“So if there is collusion with permanent secretaries within OSGF, it is easy to present the project as a genuine project.
“They deceived states into nominating state coordinators.”
A review of the Made in Nigeria Project Office’s website showed the portraits of 20 state coordinators.
The states are Kogi, Bauchi, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, Ondo, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Abia, Sokoto, Ogun, Anambra, Osun, Kebbi and Delta.
An insider, however, said not all the pictures of nominated state coordinators were published on the organisation’s website.
This newspaper understands that the nominated state coordinators were also added to a WhatsApp group where information about the organisation’s activities was regularly disseminated.
In November 2025, after one of the state coordinators was added to the group, a message was sent asking members to submit their photographs.
“All state coordinators to send their portrait photographs for profiling, calendar and on our official website,” the message reads.
In May 2026, the inauguration of the state coordinators was held in Nasarawa State.
During the ceremony, 28 state coordinators took the oath of office.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State attended the inauguration and was decorated by George as the Grand Patron of the Made in Nigeria Project Office.
Orduen Andrew Okon, the state coordinator for Benue State, later posted photographs of the inauguration ceremony on Facebook.
Chiamaka Nnake, Secretary to the Anambra State Government, was listed as the state coordinator of the organisation.
In a statement on Saturday, Nnake said Governor Chukwuma Soludo nominated her for the position after receiving a letter signed by George.
“Following the nominations, Focal Persons from the 36 states have been in a WhatsApp group engaging on issues relating to the activities of the office,” she said.
“More recently, the same office wrote to the State requesting that Anambra host the South East Made-in-Nigeria Fair.
“The request was approved, and an inaugural meeting was held about two weeks ago, with the National Coordinator in attendance.
“Since then, the State Committee has been working on preparations for the Fair, which is scheduled to take place from 2nd – 5th December 2026.”
Nnake said she had no knowledge of or any connection to the activities of the organisation beyond its official engagements.
On his LinkedIn page, Buchi described himself as the founder and president of the Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Globe Economic and Trade Development Council.
He was also said to “direct corporate initiatives” as the Chairman/CEO of FOWCOM Limited, “specialising in construction and real estate asset management”.
Buchi said he obtained a law degree from Godfrey Okoye University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the National Open University of Nigeria, as well as advanced professional legal practice training at Arden University.
He described himself as a former United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ambassador and alleged that he received a UN Medal of Honour for his “activism through the Global Family Funds on Education, which funds schooling for underprivileged children”.
Buchi also described himself as a published author on family and social reforms, “including Failed Fathers and The Strong Woman Still Struggles”.
On his work at the now-controversial Made in Nigeria Project Office, he said his mandate focused on “standardising local products and boosting Made-in-Nigeria brands globally.”
