Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has urged the newly appointed ministers to join his team in rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges. Tinubu gave the charge after swearing in seven ministers in Abuja, following their swift review by the National Assembly.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the President emphasised the importance of service, stating, “Service is the hallmark of this human endeavour; you are being called upon to serve.” Tinubu expressed optimism about the country’s economic recovery, saying, “Economic recovery is on the horizon.” He further articulated a vision for the future, asserting that the path to realising their collective dreams would benefit not just the current generation but also future ones, including their children and grandchildren.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by Nigerians, such as the high cost of living, President Tinubu highlighted progress made in implementing the new minimum wage and reducing debt servicing from 97 per cent to 65 per cent of revenue. The newly app
ointed ministers include Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment; and Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Others appointed are Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment (Trade and Investment); Idi Mukhtar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.
Tinubu thanked the National Assembly for their efficient review and approval of the new ministers. In her remarks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for her appointment and reaffirmed her commitment to aligning with the government’s foreign policy objectives. “The President has made things easier by establishing a clear foreign policy direction,” she said. Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised the importance of leveraging the creative potential, skills, and capital of young Ni
gerians and the Diaspora to enhance service delivery. She highlighted the significant contribution of the Diaspora, which remitted $22 billion annually, and suggested partnering with them to forge strategic relationships with global financial institutions.
Meanwhile, Jumoke Oduwole acknowledged President Tinubu’s trade and investment agenda, stressing the need to optimise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Nigerian businesses. She discussed the importance of retaining domestic investment while aggressively attracting new investments, further highlighting the administration’s focus on economic growth and development.