Following the mounting pressure for a reshuffle in Nigeria’s cabinet, President Bola Tinubu, dismissed five ministers on Wednesday. He has reassigned ten ministers to new portfolios and nominated seven new ministers, pending Senate confirmation.
Below are profiles of the seven new ministers:
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a seasoned diplomat, lawyer, and businesswoman who has navigated a career shaped by beauty and political influence. Rising to international fame in the late 1980s as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Africa, and Miss Intercontinental, she made history as the first African to win the latter.
While her early years were defined by her success in beauty pageants, her legal career and political involvement soon took center stage.
As the widow of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a prominent Nigerian political figure, Bianca has maintained a low profile, punctuated by her ambassadorial roles and political commitments. In 2012, she was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, following her earlier service as Ambassador to Ghana, which brought her to the forefront of international diplomacy.
She served as Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs under President Goodluck Jonathan and remains a key member of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the political party founded by her late husband. Her bid to represent her senatorial district in 2018 was stalled due to irregularities that occurred during her party’s primary elections.
Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development
Known for his reserved nature, Idi Mukhtar Maiha has excelled in the farming industry, setting high standards within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
His extensive experience and commitment to agricultural advancement position him to drive significant reforms. He serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zaidi Farms Ltd, a company that has performed exceptionally well in the Nigerian agricultural industry.
Maiha has collaborated with various government bodies, development organizations, vendors, research institutes, academia, and farmers for business and consultancy purposes.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment
Jumoke Oduwole is a distinguished academic, advisor, and speaker known for her impactful contributions to Nigeria’s economic landscape. From August 2019 to May 2023, she served as the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business, where she played a major role in enhancing the country’s business environment and promoting economic growth.
Prior to this new appointment, Oduwole was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment in the Office of the Vice President, where she honed her expertise in industrial policy and investment promotion.
Currently on a leave of absence from the University of Lagos, Oduwole is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law at the Faculty of Law.
Her academic background, combined with her extensive experience in public service, equips her with a unique perspective on legal frameworks and their implications for business and trade in Nigeria.
Oduwole’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s business climate continues to inspire both her students and colleagues, reflecting her dedication to fostering a more conducive environment for economic development.
Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment
Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, a native of Dingyadi, Sokoto State, is a seasoned Nigerian politician recently nominated as the Minister of Labour and Employment by President Tinubu. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1978 after attending primary and secondary school in Sokoto.
Before his current role, Dingyadi served as the Minister of Police Affairs under President Buhari and has held various positions within the Sokoto State government, including Secretary to the Sokoto State Government. Additionally, he chaired the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) in Abuja. Dingyadi also represented the Bodinga Federal Constituency in the Assembly prior to his ministerial appointment.
Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
Born on August 8, 1968, in Plateau State, Nentawe Yilwatda is a distinguished academic with degrees in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, a Master’s in Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Digital Systems Engineering.
He has served as a project consultant for key government initiatives, including Nigeria’s first Integrated Financial Management Information System and the Nigeria Education and Research Network project.
His expertise in digital systems has positioned him as a vital contributor to Nigeria’s technological advancement. In 2023, he was the governorship candidate for the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State.
Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State for Education
Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad has been appointed as the Federal Minister of Education, bringing 17 years of experience in the education sector. A trained educationist and gender advocate, she is a lecturer at Bayero University Kano, where she has held various roles, including Director of the Centre for Gender Studies and Head of the Department of Science Education. She has led various funded research projects, including one for the British Council in 2015.
Additionally, Suwaiba has collaborated with organizations such as Education Data, Research and Evaluation in Nigeria (EDOREN) and The Policy Practice, where she contributed to the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria Education. Her extensive background in education and advocacy positions her well to lead educational reforms in Nigeria.
Hon.Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development
Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the newly designated Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Bayero University, Kano, and a Master’s in Development Studies.
His career began as a classroom teacher before transitioning to the Kano State Ministry of Education, where he served as an inspector in Business Education and later as Principal Planning Officer at the Kano State Housing Corporation.
Ata entered politics in 1999, representing the Fagge constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly as a member of the People’s Democratic Party, where he was later appointed Majority Leader and elected Speaker in 2017.
Despite his impeachment in 2018, Ata continued to build his political career, competing in the 2019 general elections. With his rich background in economics and governance, he is poised to tackle the challenges facing Nigeria’s housing sector effectively.
By Ruth Sekyi – Public Sector Global
