TINUBU SWEARS IN NEW POWER, FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS, TASKS THEM WITH DRIVING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
… Tegbe Takes Charge of Power Sector, Enikanolaiye Assumes Foreign Affairs Portfolio
Chioma Vivian James
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday formally inaugurated Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new Minister of Power and Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, charging them to bring their vast experience and expertise to bear in advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by the ministers’ spouses, members of the Federal Executive Council, senior government officials, and close associates.
The appointments follow the resignation of the former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to pursue political ambitions ahead of forthcoming electoral activities.
Both nominees were recently screened and confirmed by the National Assembly after being presented by President Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen governance and accelerate reforms in key sectors of the economy.
Tegbe Brings Decades of Reform Experience to Power Ministry
The new Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost experts in fiscal, economic, and institutional reforms. Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Tegbe boasts more than 35 years of distinguished experience spanning the public and private sectors.
A First-Class Civil Engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Tegbe further obtained a Master of Business Administration degree in Switzerland and a Master of Public Administration degree from Birmingham.
Before his appointment, he served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led several transformational initiatives, including the design and implementation of major presidential reform programmes and strategic development plans for sub-national governments.
His professional footprint extends across critical sectors, having worked with institutions such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigeria Revenue Service, Shell, Huawei, General Electric, MTN, and Odu’a Group.
Analysts believe his deep understanding of public-sector reforms and stakeholder management could provide fresh momentum for addressing long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.
Veteran Diplomat Enikanolaiye Returns to Foreign Affairs Leadership
Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye assumes office as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with an impressive diplomatic and administrative pedigree built over 35 years in Nigeria’s foreign service.
A native of Igbagun in Kogi State, Enikanolaiye graduated with a First-Class degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he emerged as the overall best student in his faculty and won the prestigious Dean’s Prize. He later earned a Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy with Distinction from the University of Lagos.
Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 1982, he rose steadily through the ranks to become Permanent Secretary in 2016, retiring in August 2017 after a distinguished career.
Throughout his diplomatic service, he represented Nigeria in key missions across the globe, serving in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi, where he was Nigeria’s Head of Mission.
A recipient of numerous honours, including the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award and the Presidential Distinguished Public Service Career Award, Ambassador Enikanolaiye was, until his latest appointment, Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and International Relations in the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Renewed Hope Through Strategic Leadership
The inauguration of the two ministers underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening governance, improving service delivery, and ensuring experienced professionals lead critical sectors of national development.
With Tegbe expected to spearhead reforms aimed at improving electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, and Enikanolaiye bringing decades of diplomatic expertise to Nigeria’s foreign policy engagements, expectations are high that both appointments will contribute significantly to the administration’s drive for economic growth, energy security, and enhanced international relations.
The appointments mark another strategic step in President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to reposition key sectors and consolidate the gains of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
