Nigeria Pushes OIC for Greater Focus on Africa, Palestine
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to pay greater attention to Africa’s developmental and security challenges, while reaffirming its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Thursday, August 27, 2026, while delivering Nigeria’s official statement at the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria regarded the OIC as a strategic platform for promoting solidarity, peace, development and the collective interests of member states.
He said Nigeria’s participation in the organisation was informed by its Islamic heritage, domestic diversity and commitment to multilateralism, peaceful resolution of disputes, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The minister congratulated H.E. Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his election as the new Secretary-General of the OIC, stressing the importance of competence, integrity, experience, geographical balance, rotation, consensus and equal opportunity in the organisation’s leadership.
He commended member states for withdrawing their candidates in the spirit of solidarity and pledged Nigeria’s cooperation with the new OIC leadership.
Enikanolaiye also commended the outgoing Secretary-General, H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, for his tenure and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Shortly after his election, the new Secretary-General received Enikanolaiye for a one-on-one meeting, during which the Nigerian minister conveyed congratulations from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria.
The minister pledged Nigeria’s support for the success of the new administration and called for greater visibility of OIC programmes and projects in Nigeria, as well as increased appointments of qualified Nigerians to the OIC Secretariat and other offices of the organisation.
Nigeria Reaffirms Support for Palestine
On Palestine, Nigeria reaffirmed its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent and sovereign state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Enikanolaiye expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian assistance and an enduring cessation of hostilities.
He said Nigeria opposed forced displacement, annexation and other measures aimed at altering the demographic, territorial or legal character of the occupied Palestinian territories and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
Nigeria, he added, supports the preservation of the historical and religious character of Al-Quds and the protection of access to its holy sites.
The minister urged the OIC to increase its focus on the security and development challenges confronting Africa, particularly the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
He called for stronger cooperation between the OIC and African Union in peace and security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, food and energy security, trade and investment, education, youth empowerment, climate change and infrastructure development.
Nigeria, he said, was prepared to work with the incoming OIC leadership to deepen practical cooperation and support national development priorities.
As part of this effort, Nigeria proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs, with a focus on insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
Enikanolaiye also welcomed increased OIC-supported programmes in vocational training, women’s empowerment, healthcare, youth development and cultural cooperation.
He stressed the need to move from “OIC solidarity to OIC-supported, measurable development outcomes” that would have a direct impact on Nigerians and citizens of other African OIC member states.
On the sidelines of the OIC session, Enikanolaiye held separate high-level meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, H.E. Waleed Al-Khuraiji, and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mohammed Rahman Swaray.
During the meeting with Al-Khuraiji, discussions focused on strengthening Nigeria-Saudi Arabia cooperation in trade, investment, security and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
In his meeting with Swaray, Enikanolaiye emphasised intra-African solidarity and South-South cooperation. The two ministers discussed regional peace and security, economic integration and the coordination of African positions at multilateral platforms, including the OIC.
The Nigerian minister also met with the Chairman of the Saudi-Nigerian Business Council, Engr. Sultan Bin Mahdi Al Dabbara.
Their discussions focused on exploring opportunities for deeper business cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia through stronger business-to-business partnerships.
Enikanolaiye called for greater unity, consensus and practical action within the OIC, saying such measures were necessary to sustain the organisation’s relevance in the emerging global order.
He expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the government and people of Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for their hospitality and for hosting the OIC Secretariat.
