President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a move necessitated by the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
This development was contained in a statement released by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, which noted that Tuggar stepped down to prepare for the 2027 elections.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu is making a return to the ministry where she previously served as Minister of State.
Alongside her appointment, the President has nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye to take over as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Senate.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye, a Kogi State indigene, was serving as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations before this call to service.
He is described as a “distinguished diplomat and seasoned public servant” with over thirty years of experience, including a former tenure as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic assignments in London, New Delhi, Ottawa, Belgrade, and Addis Ababa.
According to the statement, these changes are part of a broader strategy to “reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships.”
President Tinubu extended his congratulations to the new officials, charging them to “work diligently to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.”
