By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has pledged to establish a crèche for nursing mothers within the Ministry, as part of practical measures to support working mothers and create a more family-friendly work environment for female officers and staff.
The pledge was made on Monday, 3 August ,2026 when the Minister received members of the Women Ambassadors of Nigeria Network (WAN-NET) on a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja, a visit that also provided the opportunity for the group to congratulate him on his appointment and introduce the objectives and activities of the network.
This was contained in a press release issued by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Tuesday, 4 August, 2026 titled “Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Receives Women Ambassadors of Nigeria Network (WAN-NET).”
According to the statement, the Minister, while addressing gender issues affecting female officers in the Foreign Service, acknowledged existing challenges, including career progression, work-life balance, and policy limitations, and reaffirmed his commitment to promoting gender inclusivity, reviewing relevant policies, and supporting initiatives that enhance the participation and advancement of women in the diplomatic service.
WAN-NET, described in the statement as a professional association of serving and retired female ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was led on the visit by its Chairperson, Ambassador Dr Eniola Ajayi, who commended the Minister’s distinguished career in the Nigerian Foreign Service, his exemplary professionalism, and his unwavering commitment to advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.
She noted that his wealth of diplomatic experience and deep understanding of international relations positioned him strongly to support the leadership of the Ministry at a critical period in Nigeria’s foreign policy.
The delegation, according to the statement, highlighted the mandate of WAN-NET, which includes harnessing the collective experience and expertise of its members to support Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, mentoring the next generation of diplomats, and promoting excellence in diplomatic service.
The Network also assured the Minister of its readiness to work collaboratively with the Ministry in areas where its members’ experience could add value, while seeking the Ministry’s goodwill, cooperation, and support in strengthening its activities.
In his response, the Minister expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and their words of congratulations, acknowledging the significant contributions of women in Nigeria’s diplomatic service and commending the establishment of WAN-NET as a platform for strengthening mentorship, advocacy, and professional excellence within the Foreign Service.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s foreign policy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasising a people-centred approach that prioritises national development and the welfare of Nigerians, noting that Nigeria’s foreign engagements must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, particularly in the areas of economic growth, investment attraction, innovation, and diaspora engagement.
Enikanolaiye further underscored the importance of strengthening institutional capacity within the Ministry, addressing funding challenges, enhancing professionalism, and improving policy coordination mechanisms, and called for increased public diplomacy and advocacy to raise awareness of the role of foreign policy in national development.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of mentorship and institutional reforms, noting that the Ministry would continue to strengthen structures that support capacity development, discipline, and merit-based progression.
Members of the delegation, in their individual remarks, expressed strong support for the Minister’s reform agenda and commended his commitment to professionalism, institutional revitalisation, and gender inclusivity, pledging their continued cooperation and readiness to contribute their expertise towards advancing Nigeria’s diplomatic objectives and strengthening the Ministry’s operations.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fostering closer collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WAN-NET in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and enhancing the country’s global standing, with the Ministry reaffirming its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s national interests through strategic engagement, effective diplomacy, and inclusive partnerships.
