Nigerian-born Bola Oyetunji has been appointed the Auditor-General of the New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state. New South Wales’ state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia’s most populous city.

Responding to the appointment, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said the news was heart-warming. She described the appointment of Mr Oyetunji as well-deserved and commendable.

The NiDCOM lauded the appointment as a confirmation of the resilience and competence of Nigerians living abroad who are making the country proud.

In a congratulatory message to the new appointee, Dabiri-Erewa advised him to use his new position to inspire the younger generation, especially Nigerians, that anything is possible to achieve through honesty, integrity, passion and hardwork.

Oyetunji, whose appointment was announced on Sunday (10 March 2024), will be sworn-in in April when the current Auditor-General Margaret Crawford concludes her eight- year term.

According to a press statement, the government of New South Wales said Oyetunji was appointed “following a merit-based recruitment process”.

“His former roles include Group Executive Director – Financial Statements Audit Service Group and Group Head – Systems Assurance and Data Analytics Group at the Australian National Audit Office. He also had a long and successful period in senior roles at the Audit Office of NSW,” the statement said.

“Mr Oyetunji’s extensive executive leadership experience includes strategy development, governance, data analytics, finance, accounting and auditing spanning Commonwealth, State and Local government.”

“Being appointed as the next Auditor-General for NSW is a great honour,” Bola Oyetunji said, commenting on his appointment.