President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in renowned fiscal policy expert Taiwo Oyedele as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, describing his appointment as a strong vote of confidence in his expertise and dedication to national service.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the Presidential Villa Abuja, where the President commended Oyedele’s contributions to Nigeria’s fiscal reforms and his role in coordinating the work of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
Tinubu praised the new minister for his professionalism, noting that his leadership in shaping Nigeria’s tax reform agenda has been instrumental in efforts to simplify the tax system, broaden the country’s revenue base and promote a more business-friendly economic environment.
“We are very proud of your knowledge, your simplicity, ambition and excellence,” the President said during the brief ceremony.
Tinubu also acknowledged the sacrifices involved in public service, appreciating Oyedele’s family for supporting his demanding schedule and responsibilities.
“This is additional responsibility, and I hope you will encourage and support him,” the President told the minister’s wife.
The President further commended Oyedele’s determination and commitment to public service, saying his expertise made the decision to appoint him straightforward.
“You are a very dedicated and highly determined individual. It didn’t take much for me to decide where you fit and where you need to be to further help with the economy,” Tinubu said.
According to the President, the role comes at a critical time when Nigeria is pursuing economic stability while striving to achieve stronger growth through structural reforms.
“It is a very challenging job because fiscal policy carries enormous responsibility, particularly at a time when the economy is stabilising but requires stronger growth,” he added.
Before his appointment, Oyedele served as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, where he helped design policies aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax structure and improving government revenue.
Originally from Ikaram Akoko in Ondo State, Oyedele is widely recognised as an economist, accountant and public policy specialist.
He obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University.
Over the course of his career, he also completed executive education programmes at globally recognised institutions including the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Oyedele spent more than two decades at PricewaterhouseCoopers, joining the firm in 2001 and eventually rising to the position of Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.
Beyond his professional work in policy and consulting, he is also involved in academia as a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.
With his appointment, the federal government is expected to further advance ongoing fiscal reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economic framework and supporting sustainable growth.
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