President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to three newly appointed ministers during a Monday morning ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The sworn-in ministers, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande, and Balarabe Lawal, took their oaths at 12:15 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the State House. This solemn event took place just before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by President Tinubu himself.
Including these ministers in the Cabinet follows their successful screening by the Senate on October 4, 2023, almost two weeks ago. President Tinubu nominated Jamila Bio Ibrahim as the Minister of Youth and Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State for Youth on September 17, 2023. Additionally, he requested the Senate's screening and approval of Balarabe Lawal as the Minister representing Kaduna.
Balarabe Lawal, who previously held the position of Secretary to the Government under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, now steps into the role of Minister of Environment in President Tinubu's cabinet, succeeding his former principal.
Jamila Bio Ibrahim, aged 37, hails from Kwara State and boasts a diverse background as a medical doctor, politician, development expert, and advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Before her recent appointment, she served as the National President of the APC Young Women Forum.
Ayodele Olawande, aged 34, is a seasoned community development expert and a prominent youth leader within the All-Progressives Congress. Before his nomination, Olawande served as a special adviser on innovation to former President Muhammadu Buhari, holding this position from 2019 to 2023. He also served in the office of Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Before the commencement of the meeting, the Council paused to observe a minute's silence in memory of Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who passed away on July 1, 2023, at the age of 96. Ajose-Adeogun was appointed Minister of Federal Capital during the Murtala Mohammed military regime in 1976, serving in this capacity until 1979.
This gathering marked the second Federal Executive Council meeting since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, reflecting the ongoing development and governance under his leadership.
