Tinubu appoints Bianca Ojukwu as foreign minister, nominates Enikanolaiye

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to pursue political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

The announcement was contained in a State House statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who previously served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is expected to take over leadership of the ministry as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy direction.

In the same development, the President nominated Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Until his nomination, Enikanolaiye served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience and has held several key positions, including Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as diplomatic postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London and New Delhi.

According to the presidency, the appointments form part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for improved efficiency, stronger global engagement and enhanced international partnerships.

President Tinubu congratulated the appointees and charged them to promote Nigeria’s national interest, deepen economic diplomacy, support regional stability and protect the welfare of Nigerians both at home and abroad.