Bianca Ojukwu Joins Tinubu’s Cabinet, Commits To New Diplomatic Vision

The newly appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, has voiced her commitment to advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

Speaking shortly after her swearing-in at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Ojukwu expressed her focus on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen Nigeria’s economy across the continent.

Ojukwu, the widow of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, highlighted AfCFTA’s potential to expand Nigeria’s trade opportunities, attract investment, and promote growth. With a background in diplomacy, she also promised to work on bolstering democratic institutions across Africa. Reflecting on her mission, Ojukwu said, “I am fully committed to keying into the foreign policy thrust of this government. The President has actually made things much easier by building the foreign policy thrust of his administration. The 4Ds comprise of democracy, development, demographic engagement, and diaspora collaboration.”

Ojukwu emphasized the importance of Nigeria’s demographic strengths, particularly its youth population. “We must leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to harness our economic potentials,” she said. Noting that 70 percent of Nigerians are under age 43, she plans to draw on the energy, skills, and contributions of young people and the Nigerian diaspora. “We have a diaspora that remits $22 billion annually,” Ojukwu said, adding that fostering partnerships with these communities and global financial institutions could strengthen Nigeria’s economy and service delivery.

She also pledged to improve consular services for Nigerians abroad, ensuring they feel supported by their government. “We will make consular services more effective, so our citizens know their government truly cares for their welfare,” she concluded.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, echoed similar goals, underscoring the need to create economic opportunities for Nigerians through AfCFTA. “For about the last nine years, I have been working on business climate reforms,” Oduwole stated, underscoring the need to create productive jobs that bring value to Nigerians. She emphasized the importance of aligning trade policies with fiscal and monetary policies, calling this alignment “significant and imperative” for Nigeria’s progress.

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