Enikanolaiye: Citizens’ Welfare Must Remain Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Compass By Raymond Enoch

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has declared that the welfare, prosperity and interests of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora must remain at the heart of the country’s foreign policy.

Enikanolaiye, who spoke against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition diplomacy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, said Nigeria’s foreign policy must ultimately translate into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.

The Minister made the position known on Thursday, September 10, 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 his office.

Enikanolaiye, who is Patron of the grassroots women’s organisation, Chairman of the Yagba South East Development Association and Agba Akin of Yagba South East, used the occasion to commend the women for their sustained contributions to community development.

He particularly applauded their medical outreaches, women and youth empowerment initiatives, cooperative activities and other interventions targeted at improving lives within their communities, pledging his continued support for the group.

The Minister said the administration was increasingly anchoring Nigeria’s external engagements on the 4Ds of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy, describing the framework as critical to making foreign policy more people-centred.

“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. Otherwise, foreign policy remains just foreign, with the Ministry dealing more with foreigners,” he said.

“We are trying to change that orientation. We are trying to see that what we do here focuses on the lives of an average Nigerian.”

He said the Foreign Affairs Ministry was working to ensure that Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements promoted national interest, economic prosperity and the welfare of citizens, including Nigerians living abroad.

“That is why the President goes around to promote Direct Foreign Investment, DFI. That is why we carry our people in the diaspora along as critical assets for national development,” Enikanolaiye said.

On development, the Minister said the government was seeking to leverage Nigeria’s international relationships and platforms to expand opportunities for citizens, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.

He urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and women-led businesses to take advantage of international opportunities in trade, investment and access to affordable financing, stressing that many Nigerians remained unaware of programmes capable of supporting their businesses.

“We are trying to encourage small and medium enterprises to do better. We encourage better packaging of our products so that they receive immediate international acceptance,” he said.

“There are immense opportunities such as low-interest loans through OIC, for example, and ECOWAS out there that Nigerians don’t know much about or how to maximise. Our job is to raise awareness and we encourage you to key into them.”

Enikanolaiye cited his recent engagements in Maiduguri and Bauchi as examples of how foreign policy and regional diplomacy could have direct implications for Nigerians.

He disclosed that he had travelled to Maiduguri about four weeks earlier for discussions on security along the Lake Chad Basin, while his recent engagement in Bauchi focused on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.

The Minister said such regional frameworks offered opportunities that Nigerians, particularly entrepreneurs and businesses, could exploit to expand beyond the domestic market.

Earlier, the National President of the women’s group, Chief Mrs Ojo Iyabode, congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing his elevation as a source of pride to the people of Yagba South East.

She said the new office came with significant responsibilities, particularly his role in representing Nigeria and contributing to the advancement of the country’s diplomatic relations and international interests.

According to her, the group was confident that the Minister’s “wisdom, experience, integrity, and commitment to service” would make a meaningful difference in his new national assignment.

Iyabode also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for finding their son worthy of appointment, while praying for wisdom, strength, good health and courage for the Minister to successfully discharge his responsibilities.

Responding, Enikanolaiye thanked the women for their solidarity and recognition, describing their visit as particularly significant because of the pivotal role women play in society.

“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.

“Anyone who plays with the role of women is playing with fire.”

The Minister praised the organisation of the group, saying its discipline, integrity and commitment to community service had made a visible difference in the lives of women, children and other vulnerable members of the community.

“I’m aware of your impacts in the areas of medical outreach, which has saved many lives, and your cooperative society. You have been remarkably successful in community development and especially in the empowerment of women and children,” he said.

“We can only continue to support you and inspire the younger ones.”

Enikanolaiye assured the delegation that he would remain focused on his national assignment and would not forget his roots, while urging them to sustain their support and prayers for the Federal Government.

He noted that the prayers of mothers remained a powerful source of strength for leaders entrusted with national responsibilities.