President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new Minister of Power and Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, strengthening his administration’s focus on energy reforms and international diplomacy.
The brief swearing-in ceremony was held on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the ministers’ spouses and senior government officials in attendance.
The appointments followed the resignation of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and former Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue their political ambitions. President Tinubu subsequently nominated Tegbe and Enikanolaiye, whose appointments were confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
The new Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, an Ibadan-born professional from Oyo State, is recognised for his expertise in fiscal reforms, institutional transformation, economic strategy and stakeholder management.
Tegbe holds a First Class degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Switzerland and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Birmingham.
He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major reform initiatives involving government institutions, fiscal restructuring and public sector transformation.
His professional experience spans key sectors, including energy, telecommunications, finance and infrastructure. He has worked with major organisations such as the Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Revenue Service, Shell, Huawei, General Electric, MTN and Odu’a Group.
His appointment comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s power sector, where the government is pursuing reforms aimed at improving electricity supply, investment confidence and sector efficiency.
Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, brings more than three decades of diplomatic experience to the administration.
A native of Igbagun, Kogi State, Enikanolaiye earned a First Class degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received the Dean’s Prize as the best student in his faculty. He later obtained a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos with distinction.
He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982 and rose through the ranks to become a Director before his appointment as Permanent Secretary in 2016. He retired from public service in August 2017 after 35 years.
During his diplomatic career, Enikanolaiye served in Nigeria’s foreign missions in Ethiopia, Serbia, Canada, the United Kingdom and India, where he headed Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in New Delhi.
He has received several national honours, including the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award, Presidential Distinguished Public Service Career Award and recognition as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Defence College.
Before his ministerial appointment, Enikanolaiye served as Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and International Relations in the Office of the Chief of Staff.
The latest appointments are expected to shape Nigeria’s energy policy direction and foreign relations strategy as the Tinubu administration continues efforts to attract investment, strengthen institutions and implement economic reforms.