The much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu has finally taken place, with five ministers relieved of their duties from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.
In the sweeping overhaul of the government structure, the Ministry of Sports Development was scrapped, while the Niger Delta Ministry was renamed the Regional Development Ministry with expanded oversight responsibilities. Additionally, two ministries — Tourism and Culture — were merged into one.
Some ministers were redeployed or had their roles downgraded to Ministers of State. Among the notable changes, former Minister of Sports Sunday Dare has been appointed as the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, while Shehu Dikko was named Director-General of the reintroduced National Sports Commission.
President Tinubu has also injected fresh talent into his cabinet, naming seven new ministerial nominees along with their respective portfolios, pending Senate confirmation.
Meet the new prospective Ministers below:
1.Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda
Position: Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
Dr Yilwatda, a distinguished academic and former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) at INEC, holds a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering. He is a strong advocate for humanitarian initiatives and poverty alleviation, with notable contributions to community development.
In 2017, Dr Yilwatda was appointed REC of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He served as REC in Benue State, where he championed voting rights for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and supervised several high-profile elections, including the governorship elections in Rivers State. He has also acted as a project consultant on initiatives such as the Integrated Financial Management Information System for Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance.
2.Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi
Position: Minister of Labour and Employment
Dingyadi has a long-standing career in public administration, having served as Secretary to the Government of Sokoto State and as a member of the House of Representatives. He was appointed Minister of Police Affairs on 19 August 2019 by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
3.Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
Position: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of the late Biafra warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is a diplomat, former beauty queen, and businesswoman. She has served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and Spain, and currently holds the position of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. With a wealth of experience in diplomacy, she is a seasoned legal practitioner.
4.Jumoke Oduwole
Position: Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment
Ms Oduwole is an expert in trade law and economic policy. With a PhD from Stanford University and extensive experience as Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, she has been instrumental in improving Nigeria’s business environment. She also served on the Technical Working Group of the Presidential Committee for the Impact and Readiness Assessment of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
5.Idi Mukhtar Maiha
Position: Minister of Livestock Development
Maiha is a key figure in the agricultural sector, with considerable expertise in livestock management. His appointment is expected to modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry, improve food security, and boost agricultural productivity.
6.Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata
Position: Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development
Abdullahi Ata is a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly with a background in development economics and urban planning. He was first elected to represent Fagge constituency in 1999 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He has served three terms in the House and was the Majority Leader of the Kano State House of Assembly in 2015 before becoming Speaker.
7.Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad
Position: Minister of State for Education
Dr Suwaiba Ahmad is a prominent educationist focused on gender inclusivity and access to education for marginalised communities. She has 17 years of experience in the field of education and is currently the Director of the Centre for Gender Studies at Bayero University Kano, where she has served in various academic leadership roles.
The newly appointed ministers are expected to leverage their expertise in delivering on President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
