Nigeria has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to devote greater attention to Africa’s developmental and security challenges, particularly the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel, while reaffirming its strong support for the Palestinian cause.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Thursday, August 27, 2026, while delivering Nigeria’s official statement at the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The meeting provided Nigeria with an opportunity to advance its interests within the 57-member organisation, with emphasis on peace and security, humanitarian assistance, economic development, youth empowerment and stronger multilateral cooperation.
Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the OIC as a strategic platform for solidarity, peace, development and the collective interests of member states.
He said Nigeria’s participation in the organisation was informed by its Islamic heritage, domestic diversity and broader commitment to multilateralism, peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The minister congratulated H.E. Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his emergence as the newly elected Secretary-General of the OIC, stressing the importance of competence, integrity, experience, geographical balance, rotation, consensus and equal opportunity in the organisation’s leadership.
Enikanolaiye commended member states for withdrawing their respective candidates in a spirit of solidarity and shared focus, assuring the new Secretary-General of Nigeria’s support for the success of his tenure.
He also commended the outgoing Secretary-General, H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, for what he described as a successful tenure and wished him well in his future endeavours.
In a related development, the Nigerian minister held a one-on-one meeting with the newly elected OIC Secretary-General, becoming the first delegation received by him immediately after his election. The OIC itself confirmed the meeting took place in Jeddah on August 27.
During the meeting, Enikanolaiye conveyed congratulations to Ould Cheikh Ahmed on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria, while pledging the country’s support for his administration.
He also called for greater visibility of OIC programmes and projects in Nigeria and advocated the appointment of more qualified Nigerians to the OIC Secretariat and other offices of the organisation.
On the Palestinian question, Nigeria reaffirmed its unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent and sovereign state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
The minister expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian assistance and an enduring cessation of hostilities.
He said Nigeria opposed forced displacement, annexation and other actions aimed at changing the demographic, territorial or legal character of the occupied Palestinian territories and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
“Nigeria further supports the preservation of the historical and religious character of Al-Quds and the protection of access to its holy sites,” he said.
Turning to Africa, Enikanolaiye urged the OIC to strengthen its engagement with the African Union in tackling peace and security challenges, counter-terrorism, humanitarian crises, food and energy insecurity, trade, investment, education, youth empowerment, climate change and infrastructural development.
He said Nigeria was ready to work with the incoming OIC leadership to deepen practical cooperation and support national developmental priorities.
As part of this effort, Nigeria supported the establishment of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs, focusing on insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
The proposed working group is expected to enhance cooperation in areas including humanitarian response, rehabilitation of displaced communities, interfaith dialogue and efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
The minister also welcomed increased OIC-supported programmes in vocational training, women empowerment, healthcare, youth development and cultural cooperation.
He stressed the need for the organisation to move “from OIC solidarity to OIC-supported, measurable development outcomes” for Nigerian citizens and other African OIC member states.
Nigeria’s engagement also extended to economic diplomacy, with the country seeking stronger partnerships in investment, manufacturing, agriculture, commerce, oil and gas and other sectors. The Federal Government had earlier indicated that it intended to use the OIC platform to attract investment and deepen business-to-business and business-to-government partnerships.
On the margins of the Jeddah meeting, Enikanolaiye held high-level bilateral discussions with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
The discussions focused on strengthening Nigeria-Saudi cooperation in trade, investment, security and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to collaboration under the OIC framework.
The minister also met with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mohammed Rahman Swaray, where they discussed intra-African solidarity, South-South cooperation, regional peace and security, economic integration and coordination of African positions at multilateral forums, including the OIC.
Enikanolaiye further met with Engr. Sultan Bin Mahdi Al Dabbara, Chairman of the Saudi-Nigerian Business Council, to explore opportunities for deeper business collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia through stronger business-to-business partnerships.
The minister called for greater unity, consensus and practical action to advance the collective interests of OIC member states, stressing that concrete results were essential to sustaining the organisation’s relevance in the emerging global order.
He expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for their hospitality and for hosting the OIC Secretariat.
