***Says Choice Reinforces Merit-Driven Governance
Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Steve Karimi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the nomination of Audu-Rafiu Olusola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing the decision as a strong endorsement of competence, experience, and institutional memory in governance.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Karimi said the nomination reflects what he described as the President’s consistent reliance on tested professionals in shaping the direction of his administration.
“I find it expedient to appreciate Mr President for nominating Ambassador Enikanolaiye. He is not only from Kogi West, whose people I represent, but also one of Nigeria’s most seasoned and grounded diplomats,” he said.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Services, noted that the nomination has been widely welcomed across the seven local government areas of Kogi West Senatorial District, where it is seen as both a regional pride and national validation of diplomatic excellence.
A Career Built on Institutional Depth
Karimi highlighted Enikanolaiye’s diplomatic trajectory as one of the most extensive in Nigeria’s foreign service, spanning over four decades and multiple administrations.
He noted that the minister-designate began his career in 1982 under the administration of former President Shehu Usman Shagari, rising steadily through the ranks to become a substantive ambassador in 2013 during President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s tenure.
He further recalled that Enikanolaiye later served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under former President Muhammadu Buhari before being appointed Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs by President Tinubu.
“Mr President has chosen a diplomat who practically embodies the art and practice of diplomacy. His career is a reflection of continuity, discipline, and institutional excellence,” Karimi stated.
The senator also pointed to Enikanolaiye’s strong academic foundation, including a First Class degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and advanced training in international law and diplomacy from the University of Lagos, as well as postgraduate exposure at the University of Oxford.
According to him, these credentials, combined with decades of field experience, position the nominee as a strategic asset to Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture at a time of shifting global alliances.
Karimi said the nomination comes at a period when global diplomacy is becoming increasingly complex, requiring experienced hands to manage Nigeria’s external relations and protect national interests.
He expressed confidence that Enikanolaiye’s appointment would strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements, deepen international partnerships, and enhance the country’s global standing.
“The President has reinforced confidence in professionalism and merit. This appointment is not just symbolic; it is strategic,” he added.
