By Gloria Ikibah
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has approved the appointment of two media professionals to strengthen the communication of the ministry’s mandate and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The appointments, announced by the Spokesperson of theMinistry, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, are Mr Richard Elesho as Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications and Mr Raphael Oni as Special Assistant on Digital and Public Diplomacy. 
According to the ministry, the two appointees bring decades of combined experience in journalism, public affairs, government communication and media management.
Elesho is a graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, and Kogi State University, Anyigba. He previously served as Chief Press Secretary and Director-General, Media Affairs, to two former Governors of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Capt. Idris Wada.
Until his latest appointment, Elesho was the North Central Bureau Chief of The News/PM News.
Oni, described by the ministry as a specialist in diplomatic reporting, has more than 15 years’ experience spanning government communication, public diplomacy and international relations.
An award-winning photojournalist and diplomatic correspondent, he holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Abuja.
He has been the publisher of Diplomats Extra Magazine since 2013, a publication focused on diplomacy and international affairs and read by ministries, departments and agencies, embassies and other stakeholders.
Oni has also served two terms as Secretary-General of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN), as well as Secretary-General of the NUJ Correspondents Chapel, Abuja.
The ministry said the appointments were aimed at improving its communication efforts and ensuring more effective engagement with the media and the public on Nigeria’s foreign policy and diplomatic activities.
Ebienfa urged stakeholders to support the new media team and foster a cordial working relationship with the appointees.
“Let us give them the necessary support and looks forward to cordial working relationship with them,” he said.
