Enikanolaiye’s Foreign Affairs Return: Veteran Diplomat Tasked with Repositioning Nigeria on the global Stage — As Senate Confirms Tegbe, Enikanolaiye for Ministerial Roles

By Raphael Oni

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye of Kogi State and Mr. Joseph Tegbe of Oyo State as ministers of the Federal Republic, following a rigorous screening exercise during plenary.

The confirmation comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted their names to the Senate last Tuesday, urging prompt consideration to fill key vacancies in the Foreign Affairs and Power sectors.

The Senate spotlight fell heavily on Ambassador Enikanolaiye, a seasoned career diplomat and Master of International Relations and Diplomacy, whose three-decade track record in Nigeria’s Foreign Service drew commendation from lawmakers. As a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Enikanolaiye is widely regarded as one of the most experienced diplomatic hands in the current pool of nominees.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Enikanolaiye’s confirmation as a step toward restoring professionalism and institutional memory to Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership. “At a time when Nigeria’s foreign policy needs clarity, consistency, and credibility, Ambassador Enikanolaiye brings the depth and discipline that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires,” Akpabio said.

While Tegbe was tasked with confronting the entrenched “cabal” frustrating the power sector, Enikanolaiye, a career diplomat of decades standing, was charged with a different but equally complex mandate: repositioning Nigeria’s diplomatic architecture to match the urgency of the nation’s foreign policy objectives.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, noted during the screening that Nigeria’s foreign missions often lag in proactive narrative management, leaving the country vulnerable to misinformation and negative global press,Enikanolaiye is expected to prioritize public diplomacy,and the rebranding of Nigeria’s external image. “The world is watching, and how we tell our story matters as much as the story itself,” Akpabio was quoted as saying. He expressed confidence that Enikanolaiye’s deep understanding of protocol and international relations would be an asset.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Enikanolaiye’s confirmation as a step toward restoring professionalism and institutional memory to Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership. “At a time when Nigeria’s foreign policy needs clarity, consistency, and credibility, Ambassador Enikanolaiye brings the depth and discipline that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires,” Akpabio said.

During his screening, Enikanolaiye outlined priorities for Nigeria’s foreign engagement, including economic diplomacy, diaspora welfare, and the strengthening of Nigeria’s role in multilateral platforms. He pledged to uphold the 4Ds Doctrine — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora — and to reposition the Ministry as a strategic tool for national prosperity.

Lawmakers also screened Mr. Tegbe for the power portfolio, with Akpabio tasking him to confront the sector’s persistent under-performance and dismantle the entrenched interests, or “cabal,” he said continue to undermine stable 24-hour electricity supply. Tegbe assured the Senate he would deploy his private sector expertise to improve service delivery and restore public confidence in the sector. Both nominees were confirmed through a voice vote after satisfying lawmakers’ questions on governance, policy direction, and accountability.

In their remarks, Enikanolaiye and Tegbe expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the nomination and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them. They also committed to working closely with the National Assembly to deliver on their mandates and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda. The confirmation is seen as a strategic move to inject technical competence and diplomatic expertise into two critical ministries at a time of economic and energy challenges.

Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye is no stranger to high-stakes diplomacy. As a seasoned foreign service, he has served in multiple Nigerian missions abroad and is reputed for his calm, analytical approach to complex geopolitical issues.

His return to the Ministry—this time as Minister of State—has been welcomed by senior career diplomats who hope for a bridge between political leadership and the permanent bureaucracy.

This article was first published in Diplomatic online on 6th May, 2026.