The appointment followed Nigeria’s election to the 35-member IAEA Board during the 70th Regular Session of the agency’s General Conference in Vienna, Austria.
A statement seen in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, said the new role would place Ajimobi at the heart of Nigeria’s engagement with one of the IAEA’s key policy-making bodies.
As Governor, she is expected to participate in deliberations on the agency’s programmes and policy direction, including nuclear safety and security, safeguards, the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology, and international cooperation.
The statement said, “As Governor for Nigeria, Ajimobi will articulate and advance the country’s positions at meetings of the Board while contributing to discussions on the policy direction and activities of the agency.”
The development is expected to give Nigeria a stronger platform to engage in international discussions on the peaceful use of nuclear technology, particularly in areas linked to sustainable development.
According to the statement, Nigeria’s election to the Board, alongside Ajimobi’s appointment, would deepen the country’s engagement with the IAEA and reinforce its commitment to using nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.
Beyond the diplomatic significance of the appointment, the position could provide Nigeria with greater opportunities to advance cooperation in sectors where nuclear applications have practical development benefits.
These areas include healthcare, agriculture, food security, water-resource management and human-capacity development.
Nuclear science and technology have applications across several of these sectors, ranging from medical diagnosis and cancer treatment to agricultural research, food irradiation, water-resource monitoring and the development of specialised technical skills.
The statement said Ajimobi would use her new responsibility to further Nigeria’s interests and strengthen the country’s voice within the international nuclear governance system.
Ajimobi currently serves as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Austria and Permanent Representative to the IAEA and other international organisations based in Vienna.
Her appointment therefore adds another responsibility to her diplomatic assignment in Austria, placing her in a position to represent Nigeria in high-level deliberations concerning the direction and activities of the UN-linked nuclear agency.
Nigeria’s election to the Board also gives the country an opportunity to participate directly in discussions that shape the IAEA’s work programme and priorities.
The IAEA Board of Governors is one of the agency’s principal policy-making organs, with responsibilities that include examining and making recommendations on the agency’s programme and budget, as well as considering key issues relating to nuclear safeguards, safety, security and peaceful nuclear cooperation.
For Nigeria, the new role comes at a time when nuclear science and technology remain relevant to national development efforts, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, energy-related research, water management and scientific capacity building.
Ajimobi’s diplomatic experience in Vienna is expected to be central to her role as Nigeria’s representative on the Board during the 2026–2028 term.
The appointment also adds to Ajimobi’s public diplomatic profile. She is the widow of the late former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who governed the state from 2011 to 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Her new assignment, however, places the focus firmly on Nigeria’s international nuclear diplomacy, with the ambassador expected to represent the country’s interests while contributing to broader discussions on the peaceful and developmental applications of nuclear science and technology.