By Cynthia Johnson
In addition to President Tinubu’s 48-person cabinet, three ministers have been sworn in at noon on Monday.
As reported by Quest Times, the new ministers are Ayodele Olawande, Balarabe Lawal and Jamila Bio Ibrahim who before the start of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by Tinubu, took the oath of office at the Council Chamber of the State House.
It is worth noting that thirty-four year-old Ayodele Olawande who is now the Minister of State for Youth, served as the special adviser on innovation to the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, and office of the vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo before his nomination.
The community development expert and youth leader within the All Progressives Congress occupied the role from 2019 to 2023.
Balarabe Lawal who served as secretary to the government under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, replaces his principal in Tinubu’s cabinet as minister of environment.
Thirty-seven year-old Jamila Bio Ibrahim who hails from Kwara State, is a medical doctor, politician, development expert and advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Before her recent appointment as the Minister of Youth, she served as the National President of the APC Young Women Forum.
Recall that the president had on September 17, 2023, nominated Ibrahim and Olawande as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth, respectively.
The swearing in comes nearly two weeks after the Senate cleared the trio after screening on October 4, 2023.
President Tinubu also observed a minute’s silence in honour of Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who passed on July 1, 2023.
Ajose-Adeogun who died at the age of 96 was the Minister of Federal Capital in 1976 under the Murtala Mohammed military regime.
Coming after a 48-day hiatus, the meeting on Monday was said to be the second council gathering since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.