ABUJA — The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has appointed Richard Elesho and Raphael Oni to a new media team to strengthen strategic communications, digital diplomacy and public engagement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The appointments were announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who said the new team would support effective communication of the ministry’s mandate and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Elesho was appointed Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, while Oni was appointed Special Assistant on Digital and Public Diplomacy.
The ministry said the two appointees bring decades of combined experience in journalism, public affairs, government communication and media management.
Elesho is a graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, and Kogi State University, Anyigba. He previously served as Chief Press Secretary and Director General of Media Affairs to former Kogi State Governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada.
Until his appointment, he was the North Central Bureau Chief of The News/PM News, a frontline Nigerian media organisation.
Oni, a diplomatic correspondent and public diplomacy specialist, has more than 15 years of experience in government communication, international relations and media.
He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Abuja and is the publisher of Diplomats Extra Magazine, a publication focused on diplomacy and international affairs which he founded in 2013.
The ministry said Oni has also served two terms as Secretary General of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) and as Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel, Abuja.
He is also an award-winning photojournalist and diplomatic correspondent.
The appointments come as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to strengthen its communication of Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and engagement with diplomatic missions, international organisations and other global stakeholders.
With Elesho assigned to strategic communications and Oni to digital and public diplomacy, the new team is expected to support the ministry’s media relations, public communication and digital engagement.
The ministry urged stakeholders and colleagues to extend the necessary support to the appointees and expressed confidence in a cordial working relationship with the new media team.
