Nigeria Pushes Africa, Palestine Agenda at OIC Meeting, Seeks Greater Role for Nigerians

 Nigeria has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to pay greater attention to Africa’s security and development challenges while strengthening its support for the Palestinian people.

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.

Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the OIC as a strategic platform for promoting 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 commitment to multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Nigeria congratulates new OIC Secretary-General

The minister congratulated Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his election as the new Secretary-General of the OIC, stressing the importance of competence, integrity, experience, geographical balance, rotation, consensus and equal opportunity in the organisation’s leadership selection.

“Nigeria is delighted that Member States withdrew their candidates in a spirit of solidarity and shared focus. We commit to working closely with the new Secretary-General for the success of his tenure,” Enikanolaiye said.

He also commended the outgoing Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, for his tenure and wished him well in his future endeavours.

In a related development, the minister held a one-on-one meeting with the newly elected Secretary-General, who received him as his first delegation immediately after his election.

Enikanolaiye conveyed congratulations to Ahmed on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria and pledged the country’s support for his tenure.

He also called for greater visibility of OIC programmes and projects in Nigeria and increased opportunities for qualified Nigerians to serve in the OIC Secretariat and other offices of the organisation.

Nigeria reaffirms support for Palestine

On the Palestinian question, Nigeria reaffirmed its support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent and sovereign state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and United Nations 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.

Nigeria, he said, opposed forced displacement, annexation and other measures aimed at altering the demographic, territorial or legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for preserving the historical and religious character of Al-Quds and protecting access to its holy sites.

Nigeria seeks stronger OIC focus on Africa

Enikanolaiye urged the OIC to increase its attention to the developmental and security challenges facing Africa, particularly the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

He called for stronger cooperation between the OIC and the African Union in areas including peace and security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, food and energy security, trade, investment, education, youth empowerment, climate change and infrastructure development.

As part of efforts to translate the relationship into concrete outcomes, Nigeria proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs to focus on insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

The minister also welcomed increased OIC-supported programmes in vocational training, women’s empowerment, healthcare, youth development and cultural cooperation.

He called for a shift “from OIC solidarity to OIC-supported, measurable development outcomes” for Nigerians and other African member states.

Minister holds bilateral talks

On the sidelines of the meeting, Enikanolaiye held bilateral discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Waleed Al-Khuraiji, focusing on strengthening Nigeria-Saudi cooperation in trade, investment, security and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral collaboration under the OIC framework.

The minister also met Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Rahman Swaray, with discussions focusing on intra-African solidarity, South-South cooperation, regional peace and security, economic integration and coordination of African positions at multilateral forums.

Enikanolaiye further met the Chairman of the Saudi-Nigerian Business Council, Engr. Sultan Bin Mahdi Al Dabbara, where they explored opportunities for expanding business-to-business partnerships and deepening commercial ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria calls for practical OIC action

In his concluding remarks, Enikanolaiye called for greater unity, consensus and practical action within the OIC to advance the collective interests of member states.

He said concrete outcomes were necessary to sustain the organisation’s relevance in an emerging global order.

The minister expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the government and people of Saudi Arabia, as well as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for hosting the OIC Secretariat and extending hospitality to participating delegations.