The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has approved the appointment of a new media team to support the effective communication of the Ministry’s mandate and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
The appointees are Mr. Richard Elesho as Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, and Mr. Raphael Oni as Special Assistant on Digital and Public Diplomacy.
Both appointees bring “decades of combined experience in journalism, public affairs, government communication, and media management.”
Mr. Richard Elesho is “a product of Delta State University, Abraka, and Kogi State University, Anyigba.” He previously “served as Chief Press Secretary/Director General, Media Affairs, to two former Governors of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Capt. Idris Wada.”
Until his appointment, “he was the North Central Bureau Chief of _The News/PM News_, a frontline media organization.”
Raphael Oni is “a specialist in diplomatic reporting with over 15 years of experience in government communication, public diplomacy, and international relations.”
An “award-winning photojournalist and diplomatic correspondent,” he “holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, from the University of Abuja.”
He is the Publisher of ‘_Diplomats Extra Magazine_’ since 2013, “a leading publication on diplomacy and international affairs widely read by MDAs, Embassies, and stakeholders.”
Oni has also “served two terms as Secretary General of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, (DICAN), and as Former Secretary General, NUJ Correspondents Chapel, Abuja.”
The Ministry called for support for the new team.
“Let us give them the necessary support and looks forward to cordial working relationship with them,” said Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, MFA.