President Bola Tinubu has reshuffled his cabinet, appointing seven new ministers for Senate confirmation, amidst growing calls for a shake-up. Alongside the dismissal of five ministers, Tinubu reassigned 10 others to new portfolios. Below are profiles of the seven new ministerial nominees.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is an accomplished diplomat, lawyer, businesswoman, and former beauty pageant titleholder. She has previously served as Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and Spain. Bianca is also Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Widely recognised as the widow of former Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, she brings her vast international experience to her new role.

Maigari Dingyadi – Minister of Labour and Employment

Maigari Dingyadi, from Sokoto State, was Minister of Police Affairs from 2019 to 2023. He is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has a long political career, including serving as Secretary to the Sokoto State Government and representing Bodinga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He also previously chaired the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry

Jumoke Oduwole is an academic and advisor, formerly serving as Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business from 2019 to 2023. Before this, she was the Senior Special Assistant on Industry, Trade, and Investment in the Office of the Vice President. Currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, her expertise in international law and economics positions her well for her new portfolio.

Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction

Hailing from Plateau State, Nentawe Yilwatda is a registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). Yilwatda is a lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi and previously served as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State, having been appointed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Idi Maiha – Minister of Livestock Development

Idi Maiha is a business executive and former Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of Zaidi Farms Limited, a leading agricultural enterprise based in Kaduna. His appointment to the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development reflects his extensive background in agribusiness and corporate leadership.

Yusuf Ata – Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development

Yusuf Ata is a seasoned educator and former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly. He previously served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano on Assembly Matters and later on Inter-Governmental Affairs. With deep roots in Kano’s political scene, his experience in governance will be valuable in his new ministerial role.

Suwaiba Ahmad – Minister of State, Education

Suwaiba Ahmad is a trained educationist and gender advocate, currently a lecturer at Bayero University Kano. She is also the Director of the university’s Centre for Gender Studies. Ahmad has held various academic administrative roles, including Sub-Dean Academics and Head of Department for Science Education, bringing her expertise in education and gender equality to her ministerial duties.

Conclusion

With these new appointments, President Tinubu has set the stage for a rejuvenated cabinet to tackle Nigeria’s pressing challenges. The diverse backgrounds of the new ministers promise fresh perspectives in government as the administration works towards its goals of economic recovery, security, and national development.