Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has appointed Mr Richard Elesho and Mr Raphael Oni as new media aides to strengthen 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 will serve as special assistant on Digital and Public Diplomacy.
A statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the appointees bring extensive experience in journalism, government communication, public affairs, diplomacy and media management.
Elesho, a graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, and Kogi State University, Anyigba, previously served as chief press secretary and director-general of Media Affairs to former Kogi State governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada.
Until his latest appointment, he was the North Central Bureau Chief of The News/PM News.
Oni, a diplomatic reporting specialist, has over 15 years’ experience in government communication, public diplomacy and international relations.
An award-winning photojournalist and diplomatic correspondent, he holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Abuja.
He has been publisher of Diplomats Extra Magazine since 2013, a publication focused on diplomacy and international affairs and read by government ministries, departments and agencies, diplomatic missions and other stakeholders.
Oni also served two terms as secretary-general of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) and was secretary-general of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents Chapel, Abuja.
The ministry expressed confidence that the appointments would strengthen its communication strategy, public engagement and projection of Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts.
It also called on stakeholders and members of the media to extend the necessary cooperation and support to the new aides, while expressing optimism for a cordial working relationship with them.
