Nigeria’s candidate for the position of Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Eniola Ajayi, says the world increasingly recognises the competence of Nigerian women in global leadership.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary and the Netherlands noted that Nigerian women have continued to excel internationally, citing the examples of WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Ajayi, an optometrist-turned-diplomat, described herself as a “bridge between science and diplomacy,” drawing on her career in medicine, public service, and international diplomacy. She has served as Nigeria’s representative to several global institutions, including the OPCW, International Court of Justice, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Outlining her vision for the OPCW, Ajayi pledged to push for universal adoption of the Chemical Weapons Convention, strengthen the organisation’s verification processes, harness artificial intelligence ethically, and ensure a fit-for-purpose budget that addresses emerging threats from rogue regimes and non-state actors. She also emphasised her commitment to diversity, gender equity, and consensus-building among member states.
Ajayi said her election would enhance Nigeria’s global standing, create opportunities for Nigerians and Africans within international institutions, and mark the first time an African and a woman would lead the OPCW.
Confident about her chances, she highlighted her past leadership roles within the organisation, including chairing the OPCW’s Executive Council during a critical period at the onset of the Ukraine conflict.
“What the world sees in Nigerian women is competence,” Ajayi said. “Quality will always show everywhere — a goldfish has no hiding place.”
