TINUBU NOMINATES IBRAHIM, OLAWANDE AS MINISTERS, KEEPS MUM ON EL-RUFAI’S REPLACEMENT

A month after inaugurating his cabinet made up of 45 ministers cleared by the Senate and three weeks after he presided over his first and only Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yet, President Bola Tinubu yesterday nominated Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim to serve as the Minister of Youth, pending her confirmation by the Senate, ending intense jostling for the much-craved Youths portfolio.

The President further nominated Mr. Ayodele Olawande to serve as the Minister of State for Youth, pending his confirmation by the Senate. This brings the cabinet tally to 47 with the awaited replacement of three dropped nominees – former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; former deputy governor of Taraba State, Sani Abubakar Danladi; and Stella Okotete from Delta State – expected to take the cabinet list to 50 ministers.

Ibrahim is a young medical doctor and most recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF). She also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 37-year-old is the daughter of Ibrahim Bio, a former Minister of Sports during President Goodluck Jonathan administration.