Tinubu Appoints Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s New Foreign Affairs Minister

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Yusuf Tuggar.

According to the announcement, Tuggar stepped down from his position to focus on his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Before her latest appointment, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, a role that positioned her closely within Nigeria’s diplomatic framework. Her elevation is seen as part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy direction and international engagement.

In a related development, President Tinubu also nominated Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Until his nomination, Enikanolaiye served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is widely regarded as an experienced diplomat with more than three decades of service in Nigeria’s foreign service.

Over the years, Enikanolaiye has held several high-level diplomatic and administrative roles, including serving as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His international assignments have taken him to major diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.

The presidency stated that the appointments are part of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture to improve efficiency, deepen strategic global engagement, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

President Tinubu congratulated both appointees and charged them with advancing Nigeria’s national interests through effective diplomacy, economic cooperation, regional peacebuilding, and the protection of Nigerians both within the country and in the diaspora.

The reshuffle comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to boost its global standing, attract foreign investment, and reinforce its role in regional and international affairs. With new leadership in the foreign ministry, attention is expected to shift toward how the administration intends to navigate evolving global challenges and strengthen Nigeria’s voice on the world stage.