New Fake Agency Boss: We’ve Been in Existence for 16 Years

The National Coordinator and Executive Director of the Made-in-Nigeria Project Office, Buchi George Nwabueze, has claimed that the organisation has been in existence for 16 years.

Nwabueze made the claim in a LinkedIn post over the weekend amid growing scrutiny surrounding the organisation and questions about its legitimacy.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had previously declared the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, reportedly operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), to be fake.

Reacting to the development, Nwabueze insisted that the initiative was not newly created and had a history dating back to 2010.

“How can you discover a 16 years program in 2026, it means you have been blind, we are committed to national development,” he wrote.

The organisation’s head had earlier traced the origin of the initiative to June 15, 2010, while presenting a letter purportedly issued by the OSGF on July 19, 2010.

According to Nwabueze, the document formed part of the historical evidence supporting the organisation’s claim of having existed for more than a decade.

However, the contents of the letter have raised further questions about the claim.

The document was addressed to a person identified as “Buchi George” of The Hats Centre in Owerri, Imo State.

Rather than referring directly to the establishment of a Made-in-Nigeria government office, the letter concerned a request for endorsement of a project titled “Made In Naija” for an event in Ireland.

The letter reportedly acknowledged a proposal seeking support for the project as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 50th anniversary.

The development has intensified questions surrounding the identity, mandate and official status of the organisation currently presenting itself as the Made-in-Nigeria Project Office.

The controversy began after the ICPC raised concerns over the purported government office and declared it fake.

The organisation’s leadership, however, has continued to defend its legitimacy and present documents it says establish its links with the Federal Government.

Nwabueze has maintained that the initiative is committed to national development, while the controversy over its status and relationship with the OSGF remains unresolved.