President Bola Tinubu has elevated Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, marking a significant reshuffle within the country’s diplomatic leadership.
She previously served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs before the new appointment.
Her elevation follows the resignation of Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down from the role to pursue his governorship ambition ahead of the 2027 elections. Tuggar had been in office since August 2023.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement outlined the changes as part of a broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy direction.
In the same announcement, Tinubu nominated Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Until this nomination, Enikanolaiye served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu brings years of diplomatic experience to her new role. She once represented Nigeria as Ambassador to Spain and later to Italy. She is also widely known as the widow of Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Her earlier appointment as Minister of State in 2023 placed her at the center of Nigeria’s foreign engagements.
Enikanolaiye, on his part, has built a long career in diplomacy spanning over three decades. He has served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His foreign postings include assignments in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London and New Delhi. His experience is expected to complement the ministry’s leadership at a critical time.