Nigeria will seek stronger cooperation on humanitarian affairs, youth empowerment and economic partnerships at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is scheduled to participate in the meeting on August 27, 2026.
The delegation departed the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday.
Speaking with journalists before departure, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s participation was aimed at advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the government’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy.
“This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation. Nigeria goes to Jeddah to advance cooperation that delivers real benefits to our people,” the minister said.
He said Nigeria’s engagement with the Islamic world would focus on peace, prosperity and development rather than partisan or religious considerations.
On humanitarian and security cooperation, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would advocate the operationalisation of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs to strengthen responses to insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
He said the initiative would support interfaith dialogue, rehabilitation of displaced communities and efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
The minister also disclosed that Nigeria would seek expanded OIC-supported programmes in vocational training, women’s empowerment, healthcare and cultural exchanges as part of efforts to equip young people with relevant skills and promote peace and unity among member states.
On economic diplomacy, Enikanolaiye said the delegation would showcase Nigeria’s economic reforms and investment opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing, automotive, oil and gas, and commerce.
He added that Nigeria would engage OIC investors and institutions on Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government partnerships aimed at attracting foreign direct investment and accelerating economic diversification.
The meeting will also feature the election of a new Secretary-General of the OIC. According to the minister, Nigeria will engage constructively to support the emergence of leadership committed to unity, reform and people-centred programmes across the 57-member organisation.
Enikanolaiye noted that the OIC had implemented several programmes and projects in Nigeria, stressing that such interventions were carried out without religious bias.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and strengthening solidarity within the OIC, which he described as the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
According to him, Nigeria, which has been an active member of the OIC since 1986, would continue to contribute to efforts aimed at promoting peace, development and cooperation among member states.
“Nigeria remains a committed member of the OIC. We will work with all member states to ensure our collective decisions reflect the aspirations of over 1.8 billion people and contribute to global peace and development,” he added.
The Minister of State is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and OIC officials on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting to advance Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic interests.
