- The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu assumes duty, reaffirms commitment to 4Ds Policy Agenda.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Friday, 8 May 2026, officially assumed duty following her elevation by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister was hosted to a warm reception on arrival by Senior Directors in the Ministry led by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, PhD, and the Directors-General of Agencies under the Ministry such as: Department of Technical Cooperation in Africa, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Technical Aid Corps and the Foreign Service Academy.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, congratulated the Honourable Minister on her appointment by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, describing her elevation as a reflection of her dedication, professionalism, and exceptional service to Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives. He noted that Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu demonstrated remarkable leadership and commitment during her tenure as Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and expressed confidence in her ability to further strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements and international partnerships. The Permanent Secretary assured the Honourable Minister of the loyalty, cooperation, and full support of the staff of the Ministry in advancing the foreign policy priorities of the Federal Government, including the promotion of Nigeria’s national interests, enhancement of bilateral and multilateral relations, protection of Nigerians abroad, attraction of foreign investment, and promotion of peace, security, and development.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of agencies under the Ministry, including the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), as well as the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS, Amb. Olawale Emmanuel Awe, all of whom pledged their support and collaboration towards the success of the Honourable Minister’s tenure.
In her remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded her and reaffirmed her commitment to sustaining and consolidating the achievements of the Ministry under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Honourable Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the implementation of Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy agenda, anchored on Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography, while emphasising citizen diplomacy and strategic autonomy as central pillars of Nigeria’s international engagement. She further stressed the importance of professionalism, institutional efficiency, innovation, and unity of purpose in addressing contemporary global challenges and advancing Nigeria’s strategic interests on the regional, continental, and global stages.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu also commended the dedication and sacrifices of officers and staff of the Ministry and reaffirmed her commitment to staff welfare and effective service delivery. The Honourable Minister concluded by pledging to work closely with the Permanent Secretary, management, staff, and agencies under the Ministry to ensure the effective implementation of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and the protection of the welfare of Nigerians.
