President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as minister of foreign affairs, a promotion from her previous position as minister of state in the same ministry.
The ascension comes after Amb Yusuf Tuggar resigned to pursue his governorship ambitions in the 2027 elections.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, signed a statement on Wednesday confirming the appointment.
Onanuga also announced the nomination of Sola Enikanolaiye of Kogi State as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.
Until his appointment, Enikanolaiye was the president’s senior special assistant for foreign affairs and international relations.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the widow of the late Biafran warlord and statesman Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain and later to Italy before being appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by Tinubu in 2023.
Tuggar, who had been the foreign affairs minister since August 2023, resigned to run for governor of Bauchi State in the 2027 election.
In March, the presidency issued a directive through the secretary to the government of the federation, requiring ministers with political ambitions to resign by March 31.
Enikanolaiye offers more than three decades of diplomatic expertise to his current position.
He was permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held critical positions in Addis Abeba, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.
Tinubu stated that the appointments were part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships, and he urged both appointees to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and protect the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.
