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NIGERIA NOMINATES AMBASSADOR DR. ENIOLA AJAYI FOR OPCW DIRECTOR-GENERAL POSITION

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has nominated Ambassador Dr. Eniola Ajayi for the position of Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). With nearly four decades of professional experience, Dr. Ajayi brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and principled diplomacy essential for leading the Organisation into a new era. As a seasoned diplomat, public servant, and trained scientist, Dr. Ajayi has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills. “I am a bridge between science and diplomacy,” she explains. “My training as a clinician has taught me to make decisions based on evidence, and my years as a diplomat have taught me the importance of listening, inclusivity, and consensus-building.” Dr. Ajayi’s career spans clinical science, governance, and diplomacy. She began as an optometrist and ocular pathologist, operating a successful private eye care practice in Nigeria for 28 years. She later served in the Executive Arm of Government, holding cabinet positions as Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, and Environment, where she introduced reforms advancing sustainable development, innovation, and science-based policymaking. As Ambassador to Hungary and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dr. Ajayi represented Nigeria to various international institutions, including the OPCW, International Criminal Court (ICC), and International Court of Justice (ICJ). Her experience within the OPCW is extensive, having held key roles such as Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Council and Chairperson of the Chemical Industry and Article VI Issues Cluster. Dr. Ajayi’s vision for the OPCW includes six strategic pillars: Achieving Universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Modernizing for Impact, People-Centered and Mission-Driven Leadership, Concluding Outstanding Files, Staying Vigilant in a Changing World, and Leadership with Integrity. “I will lead with humility, but also with courage,” she affirms. “The OPCW must adapt to new realities, but never at the expense of its foundational values.” If elected, Dr. Ajayi would be the first African and the first woman to serve as Director-General of the OPCW since its inception. Her candidacy carries historic significance, rooted in demonstrated leadership, deep expertise, and a strong moral compass. “Representation matters—not for its own sake, but because it brings new perspectives,” she says. “As an African woman, I bring lived experiences that can contribute to a more just and inclusive multilateral system.” Dr. Ajayi’s leadership philosophy is guided by three pillars: integrity, inclusivity, and impact. Her diplomatic approach is shaped by Nigeria’s foreign policy doctrine of “friendship to all, enmity to none,” making her a natural consensus-builder and advocate for peaceful solutions.