George Nwabueze, the National Coordinator and Executive Director of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, has released additional documents in defence of the controversial office, insisting that it is a legitimate government project linked to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Nwabueze shared the documents on his LinkedIn page on Sunday, days after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission raised questions about the status of the office and described it as a suspected fake federal agency.
Among the documents he published was a letter dated July 19, 2010, which he said was issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The letter, referenced NIG@ 50/S. 7/C,3/45 and signed by Dominic Y.E. on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was addressed to Buchi George, identified at the time as the Executive Director of The Hats Centre in Owerri, Imo State.
The correspondence concerned a proposal titled, “Endorsement of Our Project, Made in Naija, to be Held in Ireland.”
According to the letter, the OSGF acknowledged receiving the proposal dated July 16, 2010, and advised the organisers to submit it to the Nigerian High Commission in Ireland for possible consideration.
The letter concluded with assurances of the SGF's warm regards.
Sharing the document, Nwabueze argued that the history of the initiative demonstrated that the Made in Nigeria project had been associated with the OSGF for many years.
He wrote that the initiative dated back to June 15, 2010, and questioned how a programme he claimed had existed for 16 years could only have been “discovered” in 2026.
Nwabueze said the controversy would not deter his commitment to promoting national development.
He subsequently published additional graphics highlighting the objectives and activities of the project office.
The materials promoted the development and consumption of locally manufactured goods, with slogans including “Localise national products, industrialise Nigeria” and “Our products. Our pride. Our progress.”
The project also identified the promotion of domestic manufacturing, job creation, wealth generation, reduced dependence on imports and improved international competitiveness as some of its objectives.
Another graphic described the initiative as supporting local production under the broader goal of industrialising Nigeria and promoting Nigerian-made products for international markets.
The latest documents form part of Nwabueze's continuing response to allegations surrounding the organisation.
The ICPC had previously said an investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council led investigators to the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office.
According to the commission, the office had been allocated space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorisation. The ICPC also identified Nwabueze as the person promoting the organisation.
Nwabueze has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the organisation is not a federal agency operating independently of government but a project office under the OSGF.
In an earlier response, he questioned the description of the organisation as a fake agency, arguing that the Made in Nigeria programme had been connected with the SGF's office since 2010.
He has also previously released an appointment letter dated October 3, 2025, which he said was issued by the OSGF and confirmed his appointment as National Coordinator and Executive Director of the Made in Nigeria Project Office.
Another document he published showed that the organisation had applied to the OSGF in April 2025 for recognition as a special project.
The controversy intensified after the ICPC announced that President Bola Tinubu had ordered Nwabueze's arrest over his alleged involvement in operating and promoting the organisation.
Nwabueze's latest disclosures are therefore aimed at establishing a paper trail linking the Made in Nigeria initiative to the federal government and, in particular, the OSGF. However, the dispute over whether the current office possesses the necessary authorisation to operate remains unresolved.
Nwabueze Releases More Documents, Insists Made-in-Nigeria Office Is Legitimate
