The Senate, on Wednesday, confirmed the nomination of Bianca Odimiegwu-Ojukwu as substantive Minister of State, Foreign Affairs.

The Red Chamber also confirmed Dr Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Development; Dr Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; and Muhammadu Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment.

Also on Wednesday, Idi Muktar Maiha was confirmed as Minister of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing, and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.

The nominees were confirmed after about five hours of screening by the Senate, followed by a voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Their confirmation followed the handing over of ministers who were relieved of their positions by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, October 21, 2024.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim took over office on Monday, following the sack of Uju Kennedy Ohanenye.

Also, the former Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, handed over to the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.

Others reportedly handed over to the respective permanent secretaries in their former ministries to meet up with the directive by the President for the October 30 handover date.

Earlier, the Senate, following a motion moved by the Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, at 12:57 pm, on Wednesday, suspended its rule to admit the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, to bring the nominees into the plenary.

Last Thursday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read President Bola Tinubu’s letter nominating the new ministers.

During their screening, the now-conformed ministers highlighted their plans for the uplift of their various ministries.

Bianca in her presentation, highlighted the ongoing challenges Nigerian embassies faced worldwide due to limited funding, which often constrained ambassadors in performing much-needed maintenance.

She also spoke about her achievements while she served as the ambassador to Spain.

She said, “In most missions, because of no more funding, most ambassadors are constrained when it comes to carrying out refurbishments.

“This shortage of funds prevents embassies from showcasing Nigeria’s stature, impacting the country’s standing on the global stage.

“It is unfortunate because a lot of embassies are going through this situation, and it has, to a large extent, diminished our standing around the world.”

Emphasising the importance of respectable diplomatic representations, she urged the Nigerian government to prioritise embassy maintenance under the current administration.

She cited the nation’s foreign policy objectives of promoting democracy, development, and the Nigerian diaspora as critical areas that require embassies with dignified facilities.

“This is something that the government, under this president, should look into,” she said, pointing out that embassies often host international delegations, study tours, and exchanges, making respectable surroundings crucial.

“It is imperative that when you are in those exchanges, you meet your patrons and colleagues in environments that reflect Nigeria’s true standing,” she said, concluding her remarks with a plea for urgent intervention.

Similarly, in response to solving the issues of trade and investments, Oduwole outlined her vision to revitalise Nigeria’s economy through focused investment, productivity, and job creation.

She highlighted the administration’s recent reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and underscored the need for greater alignment of monetary, fiscal, trade, and industrial policies to promote sustainable growth.

“Since the commencement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, key reforms in monetary and fiscal policy aimed at stabilising the economy have started to deliver some results,” Oduwole said.

“In terms of inflation, it’s beginning to decline, and tax reforms are ongoing. What we need now is a convergence of these pillars with our trade and investment policies to further drive growth.”

Oduwole addressed Nigeria’s concerning decline in foreign direct investment, noting that FDI dropped by about 86 per cent over the past five years, with roughly 20 multinational companies either exiting or scaling back operations.

She said, “If confirmed, I would focus on three priority areas: investment, retention and attraction, boosting exports and foreign exchange earnings, and creating productive jobs through a vibrant domestic industry,” she told the Senate.

Oduwole highlighted a recent $3bn commitment from Jindal Steel Africa to Nigeria’s steel sector as evidence of the positive impact of the administration’s economic reforms.

Reflecting on efforts to foster youth employment and exports, Oduwole mentioned initiatives supporting IT service exports through companies like Outsource Global.

“They’re exporting IT services while young Nigerians work at home, earning foreign exchange without needing to emigrate,” she said.

“This proves that Nigeria can be a global hub for service exports, and it’s one of the areas I would prioritise.”

She cited her track record of collaboration, including with the Eighth National Assembly on the Collateral Bill, which helped secure loans for small businesses by establishing a nationwide collateral registry.

Oduwole concluded with a commitment to deepening Nigeria’s economic reforms and fostering high-value jobs that meet global standards.

“We need jobs that are not just numerous but also productive and income-generating,” she said.

“By enhancing regulatory processes and aligning with international standards, we can integrate Nigeria into global value chains and strengthen our role in the $3.4tn African market,” she added.

Maiha from Adamawa State was charged with bringing about modern ways of livestock business and development in Nigeria.

Maiha had, in his presentation before the Senate, submitted that the problem of farmers/herders clashes would be solved by making the 417 grazing areas across the country functional.

“The 417 grazing areas in the country would be made to be practically suitable livestock businesses by ensuring that they have sufficient grass and water to contain those animals.

“In this way, we will require the support and solidarity of the National Assembly, the state governors, the local government, and the communities,” he said.

But the Senate advised him to look beyond the 417 grazing areas for a way out of the incessant crises between farmers and herders.

Akpabio and Senator Muntari Dandutse specifically told him to domesticate modernised ways of livestock development being practised in China, the Netherlands, Singapore etc.

Lawmakers excited over appointments

Earlier Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia State) commended The President for really reflecting political party integration in his “Government of National Unity” by appointing Amb Ojukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance to serve in his government.

Abaribe also commended Tinubu for attaching the portfolio of his nominees to the list sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

The former Senate minority leader recalled that the Senate had charged the President to always attach portfolios to names for meaningful scrutiny of nominees’ capability to handle offices assigned to them.

The two observations were echoed by Akpabio who also lauded the President, adding that “no president has done it and no president would have done it except President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I wish future presidents would do so by attaching portfolios to names of nominees.”

I’m threatened with Ata as minister- Hanga

A general laughter enveloped the Senate chamber on Wednesday during the screening of the Kano ministerial nominee, Ata, when Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) said he was threatened by Ata’s appointment.

Akpabio had asked Hanga to comment on the nominee, a former Speaker of the Kano State House Assembly; he said he was threatened by the nomination of a political juggernaut, who is from his senatorial district.

“The appointment of this political juggernaut threatens me because we are from the same senatorial district.

“He is a grassroots politician who was my ally, but that said, I’m in support of his nomination,” Hanga, the Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, said.

Akpabio, in his response, told Hanga that there was no cause for alarm, describing him as a nice person and team player.

“Despite the party differences, you are all united in supporting the nominee,” he said.

Earlier, Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (NNPP, Kano South) urged his colleagues to allow the nominee, Ata, to take a bow and go, given that he was a parliamentarian in Kano State – a former speaker of the state house of assembly.

Specifically, Kawu described the nominee as a grassroots politician who started politics from scratch and deeply connected with the masses.

Contributing, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, commended the President for nominating Ata as a minister.

“I commend Mr President for nominating this gentleman for this post. Senator Kawu has said it all. He is a strong grassroots politician who started from scratch and got to the top, just as our President. We are always eager to sit with Mr President because he is open.

“In fact, since the inception of democracy in this country in 1999, there has been no time since we have elected a president who started from scratch and has reached the top. Our President started from scratch to the top.

“That is why he knows all parts of the country. If you talk about Ebonyi State, he will tell you about its configuration. If you are talking about the state of Akwa Ibom, he is just like an encyclopedia; he will tell the names of the major stakeholders there. That is why he has decided that this gentleman (Ata) should be a minister because he understands the configuration of Kano State.”

He added, “If you go to Kano, our people are praising Mr President for bringing about inclusion. The nominee is a strategist. He is known for his political sagacity. He is known by all and sundry: the youth, the Ulama, the students, women, and the business community; everybody likes him because he interacts with them freely.

“Kano will now be taken back by the APC, Insha Allah. We had a vacuum, and he will now fill it. We are grateful to Mr President in Kano. He recently gave us the North West Development Commission headquarters. Kano is grateful to Mr President.

“We shall continue to support your government, and we shall continue to help strengthen your desire for prosperity for this nation,” he said.