President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new Minister of Power and Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, marking a significant reshuffle within the Federal Executive Council.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was attended by family members of the appointees, senior government officials, cabinet members, and presidential aides. The appointments follow the resignation of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who both stepped down to pursue governorship ambitions in their respective states ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
President Tinubu had forwarded the nominations of the two officials to the Senate, where they underwent screening and were subsequently confirmed by lawmakers. Their formal inauguration now paves the way for them to assume full responsibilities in their new positions at a time when both the power and foreign affairs sectors remain critical to the administration’s agenda.
The new Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, is widely recognised for his extensive experience in economic policy, institutional reforms, fiscal management, and stakeholder engagement. With more than three decades of experience spanning both the public and private sectors, Tegbe is expected to bring strategic leadership to a ministry facing enormous challenges, including inadequate power generation, transmission constraints, electricity distribution inefficiencies, and the need to attract greater investment into the sector.
Industry observers say his appointment comes at a crucial period as the government seeks to improve electricity supply, expand access to power for households and businesses, and implement reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s energy infrastructure. Expectations are high that the new minister will accelerate ongoing projects and work closely with industry stakeholders to address long-standing challenges affecting electricity delivery nationwide.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye assumes office as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with a distinguished diplomatic background and decades of experience in international relations. A graduate of Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned First Class honours and emerged as the best graduating student in his faculty, Enikanolaiye also holds a Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos.
Throughout his diplomatic career, he served in several Nigerian missions abroad, including postings in Ethiopia, Serbia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He also headed Nigeria’s mission in India before serving as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Analysts believe his wealth of diplomatic experience will strengthen Nigeria’s engagement with the international community, particularly in areas of trade, investment, regional security cooperation, and the protection of Nigeria’s interests abroad. His appointment is also expected to support ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral and multilateral partnerships as the country seeks greater economic and diplomatic influence on the global stage.
The inauguration of the two ministers underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining continuity in governance while ensuring that key ministries remain fully functional despite changes in personnel. Political observers note that the appointments reflect the administration’s strategy of placing experienced technocrats and career professionals in critical positions to drive national development priorities.
As the new ministers settle into office, attention will focus on how they address pressing challenges in their respective sectors and contribute to the administration’s broader goals of economic growth, improved infrastructure, energy security, and enhanced international engagement.
