President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in the newly appointed Chairman and 37 Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at the State House, Abuja.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, featured the inauguration of the FCC Chairperson, Hulayat Omidiran, alongside commissioners representing the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Omidiran, 59, succeeds Dr Muheeba Dankaka, whose reappointment earlier announced by the Presidency was reversed the same day Omidiran was named.
A former two-term member of the House of Representatives, Omidiran represented Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State between 2011 and 2019. An indigene of Ikire in Osun State, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Beyond her legislative career, Omidiran has extensive experience in sports administration. She previously served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports and held several positions in football administration, including membership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, membership of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee, and service on the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
She is also the founder of Omidiran Babes Football Club, a female football team established in Osogbo, Osun State, in 1997.
President Tinubu appointed Omidiran on August 11, 2025, while her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on November 27, 2025, following security screening and her appearance before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs on October 30.
Mohammed Musa was also sworn in as Secretary of the Commission.
Among the commissioners inaugurated were Peter Eze (Enugu), AbdulWasiu Bawalla (Lagos), Obinna Oriaku (Abia), Lawal Roni (Jigawa), Abubakar Bunu (Kebbi), Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun), Bema Madayi (Adamawa), Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom), Nnoli Gloria (Anambra), Babangida Gwana (Bauchi), Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa), Aligba Tarkende (Benue), Modu Mustapha (Borno), Dr Stella Ekpo (Cross River), Ederin Idisi (Delta) and Solomon Dagami (FCT), among others.
After the brief ceremony, President Tinubu exchanged handshakes with the chairperson and commissioners.
Dignitaries present included the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Temitope Fashedemi; and the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr John Ezeamama.
