Nigeria is set to deepen its strategic engagement with member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with particular emphasis on humanitarian cooperation, youth empowerment, women’s development and economic partnerships, at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2026, will bring together foreign ministers and senior representatives of OIC member states to deliberate on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, economic development, humanitarian concerns and institutional reforms.
Nigeria’s delegation is being led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who departed the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday for the high-level engagement.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on Digital Media and Public Diplomacy, Raphael Oni, the minister said Nigeria’s participation was designed to secure practical outcomes that would advance the country’s national interests and improve the welfare of its citizens.
Speaking with journalists before his departure, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s engagement with the OIC was firmly anchored on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the country’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy.
He stressed that Nigeria’s relationship with the OIC would continue to be guided by strategic national interests, development priorities and mutually beneficial partnerships, rather than religious or ideological considerations.
“This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation. Nigeria goes to Jeddah to advance cooperation that delivers real benefits to our people,” the minister said.
Humanitarian and Security Cooperation
A major focus of Nigeria’s participation will be humanitarian and security cooperation, particularly in addressing the growing challenges confronting communities affected by insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.
Enikanolaiye disclosed that Nigeria would advocate the operationalisation of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs to provide a more structured framework for cooperation in responding to humanitarian emergencies and regional security challenges.
According to him, the proposed framework would provide opportunities for Nigeria and OIC partners to strengthen collaboration on the rehabilitation and reintegration of displaced communities, interfaith dialogue, counter-terrorism and efforts to prevent violent extremism.
He said stronger cooperation in these areas was essential to addressing the root causes of instability and creating conditions for sustainable peace and development across affected communities.
Youth and Women Empowerment
The minister also said Nigeria would seek expanded OIC-supported programmes for young people and women, particularly in vocational education, skills acquisition, healthcare, women’s empowerment and cultural exchanges.
He explained that the initiatives would provide Nigerian youths with opportunities to acquire relevant skills and improve their economic prospects, while also promoting greater interaction and understanding among young people across OIC member states.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would continue to encourage partnerships that place youth development at the centre of efforts to achieve peace, social cohesion and sustainable economic growth.
Economic and Investment Diplomacy
Economic diplomacy will also feature prominently in Nigeria’s engagement at the meeting, with the delegation expected to showcase investment opportunities arising from the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms.
The Minister of State identified agriculture, manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), automotive, oil and gas, and commerce as key sectors in which Nigeria would seek greater investment and partnerships with OIC countries and institutions.
He said Nigeria would pursue Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) engagements to attract foreign direct investment, expand trade and support the country’s economic diversification objectives.
According to him, the OIC platform provides Nigeria with an opportunity to strengthen commercial relationships with a broad network of countries and institutions while presenting the investment opportunities emerging from the Federal Government’s reform programme.
New OIC Secretary-General
The Jeddah meeting is also expected to feature the election of a new Secretary-General of the OIC.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would participate constructively in the process and support leadership capable of strengthening unity within the organisation, advancing institutional reforms and promoting people-centred programmes across member states.
He described the OIC as an important multilateral platform, noting that the organisation is the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
The minister also addressed perceptions surrounding the organisation’s activities in Nigeria, noting that the OIC had supported a number of programmes and projects in the country without religious discrimination.
He said Nigeria’s long-standing membership of the organisation had provided opportunities for cooperation in development, humanitarian assistance, education and other areas of mutual interest.
Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Multilateralism
Nigeria has been an active member of the OIC since 1986 and, according to the minister, remains committed to contributing to initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, development and international cooperation.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would work with the organisation’s 57 member states to ensure that collective decisions reflect the aspirations of the more than 1.8 billion people represented by the OIC.
“Nigeria remains a committed member of the OIC. We will work with all member states to ensure our collective decisions reflect the aspirations of over 1.8 billion people and contribute to global peace and development,” he added.
Beyond the formal sessions of the CFM, the Minister of State is expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from other member states as well as senior OIC officials.
The engagements are expected to provide additional opportunities to advance Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and development interests, while exploring new areas of cooperation that could translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
Nigeria’s participation therefore reflects the Federal Government’s broader strategy of using multilateral diplomacy to strengthen international partnerships, attract investment, expand development opportunities and contribute to regional and global efforts towards peace and stability.