Tinubu Nominates Jamila Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande as Youth Ministers

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ms Jamila Bio Ibrahim to serve as the Minister of Youth and Mr Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State for Youth.

These nominations indicate a separation of the ministry, which used to be joined with the Ministry of Sport in the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement signed by Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Sunday, it was emphasised that the nominees would have to undergo screening at the Senate for confirmation.

Upon confirmation by the Mr Godswill Akpabio-led parliament, Ms Ibrahim will take up the position as the Minister of Youth while Mr Olawande will take after her in a junior role as the Minister of State for Youth.

Ms Ibrahim is a young medical doctor and most recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF). She has also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr Ayodele Olawande is a community development expert and youth leader in the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). He most recently served in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Innovation from 2019 to 2023.

In the statement, Mr Ngelale said President Tinubu charged the nominees to ensure that they consistently reflect the dynamism, innovative zeal, and unyielding productivity that are synonymous with the young people of Nigeria as they discharge their duties.

Last month, President Tinubu appointed over 45 ministers, including the former Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Mr Festus Keyamo as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

He also picked Mr Dele Alake as the Minister of Solid Minerals Development; Mr Wale Edun as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Mr Bosun Tijani as the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy; Mr Adegboyega Oyetola as the Minister of Transportation; Mr David Umahi as the Minister of Works; and Ms Betta Edu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; among others.