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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s latest cabinet changes.
The approvals followed the nominees’ screening at plenary, where lawmakers questioned them before granting confirmation through the Committee of the Whole.
The nominations were conveyed to the Senate in separate letters from the president on Tuesday, read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In the correspondence, Tinubu indicated that the requests were made in line with constitutional provisions governing ministerial appointments and urged the Senate to consider them promptly.
The letter partly read, “In compliance with the provisions of Section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to forward for confirmation by the Senate the nomination of Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“While I hope this request will receive the expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”
After the letters were read, the nominations were referred for immediate consideration, with Akpabio assuring that the upper chamber would fast-track the process.
Enikanolaiye’s confirmation marks a return to a prominent role in Nigeria’s foreign policy space. A career diplomat with more than three decades of experience, he has held key positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. His postings have included Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.
Tegbe’s appointment comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s electricity sector, which continues to face challenges, including grid instability and funding constraints, despite ongoing reforms.
His nomination followed the resignation of former power minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue the Oyo State governorship race ahead of the 2027 elections.
With over 30 years of experience in fiscal policy and economic reform, Tegbe previously served as a senior partner at Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) Africa and currently serves as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.
