By Woke Joshua
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has said the welfare and interests of Nigerians at home and abroad remain at the heart of the Federal Government’s foreign policy direction.
He stated this when women from Yagba South East District in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, led by their National President, Chief Mrs Ojo Iyabode, paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja.
Enikanolaiye, who is the Patron of the women’s group and Chairman of the Yagba South East Development Association, said the government was working to ensure that its diplomatic engagements translated into improved living conditions, economic opportunities and greater prosperity for ordinary Nigerians, his Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, Elesho Richard, said in a statement on Saturday.
The Minister, also known as the Agba Akin of Yagba South East, commended the women for their contributions to community development, medical outreach, and the empowerment of women and youths.
He described their achievements as remarkable and pledged his continued support for the organisation.
Expressing appreciation for the visit, Enikanolaiye said the recognition and support from women in his community were significant to him.
“It's an honour to be visited by you. It's a rare thing to be recognised and celebrated at home, especially by women. I do not take this visit for granted,” he said.
He also praised the group’s organisation, discipline and integrity, noting its impact through medical outreach, cooperative activities and community empowerment programmes.
Explaining the Federal Government’s foreign policy thrust, the Minister said demography, development, diaspora and democracy remained the four critical pillars guiding Nigeria’s international engagements.
He said the policy was being aligned with the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with greater emphasis on the people and their economic wellbeing.
“Demography is about the people. About you and I, everyone of us. That is the view that foreign policy must impact in the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working to change the perception of foreign policy as an activity focused mainly on relations with other countries.
He said the Ministry was determined to make citizens’ welfare, national prosperity and economic development central to its operations.
Enikanolaiye explained that the development component of the policy covered human security, education, infrastructure and other areas that directly affect the lives of Nigerians.
He further stated that the government was promoting foreign direct investment and engaging Nigerians in the diaspora as important partners in national development.
The Minister encouraged women and small business owners to take advantage of international opportunities in trade, investment and financing.
He said platforms such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) offered opportunities that could support the growth of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises.
“We encourage better packaging of our product so that they receive immediate international acceptance,” he said, urging Nigerians to improve the quality and presentation of their products for the international market.
Enikanolaiye disclosed that he had recently participated in engagements on security in the Lake Chad Basin in Maiduguri and discussions on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme in Bauchi.
He said such engagements were intended to expose Nigerians to opportunities that could promote trade, investment and development.
The Minister assured the women of his commitment to serving the nation and urged them to sustain their support and prayers for the Federal Government.
He noted that the prayers of mothers remained important in the success of national leadership.
Earlier, the National President of the group, Chief Mrs Ojo Iyabode, congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
She said the women were delighted by the national recognition of their son and patron, expressing confidence in his ability to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s diplomatic relations and international interests.
Iyabode commended his wisdom, experience, integrity and commitment to service, while thanking President Tinubu for finding him worthy of the appointment.
She prayed for wisdom, strength, good health and courage for the Minister as he carries out his responsibilities.