Nigeria is advancing a multi-pronged diplomatic agenda at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting convening on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in Jeddah. The delegation aims to leverage Nigeria’s 40-year membership in the body to secure concrete security commitments and attract foreign capital to support national growth.
​The Nigerian delegation departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Tuesday, August 25, led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Speaking to reporters before take-off, Amb. Enikanolaiye emphasized that Nigeria’s participation is directly anchored in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” vision and guided by the administration’s 4-D foreign policy doctrine (Demography, Development, Diaspora, and Democracy).
​”This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation,” Amb. Enikanolaiye said. “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, our focus goes beyond partisan religious orientation and persuasion. It is about bringing real benefits and development to Nigerians.”
The delegation will propose the immediate operationalization of a joint Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs. The initiative targets counter-terrorism coordination, interfaith dialogue, and aid delivery for displaced populations in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.
Representing Africa’s largest market, Nigerian officials will pitch direct investment opportunities to OIC institutional investors across key growth sectors, including agriculture, automotive manufacturing, oil and gas, commerce, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
Nigeria will press for expanded OIC funding toward technical skills acquisition, healthcare initiatives, vocational training, and cultural exchanges designed to upskill young demographics.
​Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that Nigeria will also participate constructively in the scheduled election of a new OIC Secretary-General while conducting bilateral side talks with participating foreign ministers throughout the summit.
