In a significant realignment of Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This high-profile appointment follows the resignation of the outgoing minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down from his position to focus on his political aspirations for the 2027 general elections.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who previously served as the Minister of State in the same ministry, brings a wealth of experience to the role as the nation seeks to elevate its presence on the world stage.
To fill the vacancy left by her elevation, the President has nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Senate.
A career diplomat from Kogi State, Enikanolaiye, has most recently served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. His nomination is seen as a move to inject deep institutional knowledge into the ministry’s top tier, drawing on his extensive background in Nigerian statecraft.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye’s credentials reflect over three decades of exemplary service within the Nigerian foreign service.
His distinguished career includes a tenure as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and critical diplomatic postings in major global hubs, including London, New Delhi, Ottawa, Belgrade, and Addis Ababa. This vast international exposure is expected to provide the technical expertise necessary to navigate increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics.
President Tinubu emphasized that these appointments are central to his administration’s goal of repositioning Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater strategic engagement.
In his congratulatory message, the President charged the new leadership team to prioritize economic diplomacy and regional stability. He urged the appointees to remain diligent in safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians abroad while fostering the stronger global partnerships essential for the nation’s domestic growth.
