ABUJA — “The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, on Wednessday 8 July 2026 received a delegation of the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.” The delegation was “led by Mr. Akin Arikawe, Second Vice Chairman of the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS).”
Welcoming the delegation, “the Honourable Minister of State expressed profound appreciation to members of the Council for their goodwill messages and prayers following his appointment.” He “paid special tribute to Ambassador Bulus Lolo and Mr. Akin Arikawe for the invaluable roles they played during his tenure as Permanent Secretary, noting that their guidance, encouragement, and support contributed significantly to his success in office.”
Ambassador Enikanolaiye “reaffirmed his commitment to the Council and pledged to remain an active member while strengthening collaboration between the Ministry and retired Permanent Secretaries.” He “emphasised the importance of completing the documentation of retired Permanent Secretaries and announced plans to institutionalise regular in-house training and capacity-building programmes that would draw on the extensive knowledge, experience, and institutional memory of retired senior public servants to mentor younger officers of the Foreign Service.”
Speaking on public sector reforms, “the Honourable Minister of State called for a re-evaluation of the existing national development framework, stressing that Demography should occupy a central place in Nigeria’s development agenda.” He “noted that the country’s growing population must be transformed into a strategic asset capable of driving sustainable economic growth, national development, and global competitiveness.”
Ambassador Enikanolaiye also “underscored the importance of continuous professional development within the Foreign Service, insisting that training and capacity building should be directly linked to career progression.” He “observed that the experience and expertise of retired Permanent Secretaries remain invaluable assets for sound policy formulation, leadership development, and institutional strengthening.”
“The Honourable Minister of State concluded by encouraging members of the Council to remain actively engaged in national development and public service mentorship, assuring them of the Ministry’s continued partnership in preserving institutional memory, promoting excellence in the public service, and advancing Nigeria’s diplomatic objectives.”
“The meeting ended with renewed commitments by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries to deepen collaboration in support of institutional reforms, capacity development, and the continued strengthening of Nigeria’s Foreign Service.”