Tinubu swears in three ministers-designate

President Bola Tinubu swore in three additional ministers into his 48-person cabinet at noon on Monday.

Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande and Balarabe Lawal took the oath of office at 12:15 pm at the Council Chamber of the State House before the start of the Federal Executive Council meeting which Tinubu is presiding.

This comes nearly two weeks after the Senate cleared the trio after screening on October 4, 2023.

On September 17, 2023, President Tinubu nominated Ibrahim and Olawande as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth, respectively.

He also requested the Senate to screen Balarabe Lawal as minister from Kaduna.

Lawal, who served as secretary to the government under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, replaces his principal in Tinubu’s cabinet as minister of environment.

Ibrahim, 37, hails from Kwara State. She is a medical doctor, politician and development expert and advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Before her recent appointment, she served as the National President of the APC Young Women Forum.

Olawande, 34, is a community development expert and youth leader within the All Progressives Congress.

Before his nomination, Olawande served as the special adviser on innovation to the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, and office of the vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. He occupied the role from 2019 to 2023.

Before the meeting began, the Council observed a minute’s silence in honour of Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who passed on July 1, 2023.

Ajose-Adeogun who died at the age of 96 was appointed the Minister of Federal Capital in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military regime and served in the position till 1979.

Monday’s meeting is the second council gathering since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2-23.

It comes after a 48-day hiatus.