They are among eight special presidential advisers appointed on Thursday to help bring in reforms in the Africa’s largest economy.

Olawale Edun, an economist with a background in merchant banking and corporate and international finance, will advise on monetary policy while Nuhu Ribadu, former head of anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will advise on security.

The speed with which the newly inaugurated president is selecting his team has been greeted with relief by many Nigerians.

His predecessor Muhammadu Buhari was nicknamed “Baba-go-slow” for taking up to six months to make up his mind about appointments when he took office eight years ago.

The special advisers - often technocrats - are part of the president’s cabinet but unlike ministers they do not hold a ministerial portfolio.