By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday swore in Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance, describing the appointment as a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal policy framework and deepen ongoing economic reforms.
The brief ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, saw the President commend Oyedele’s professionalism, dedication, and intellectual depth, particularly in his role as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
Tinubu said the appointment was a vote of confidence in Oyedele’s capacity to deliver, noting that his work on tax reforms has been instrumental in shaping policies aimed at simplifying the tax system, broadening the revenue base, and creating a more business-friendly environment.
“We are very proud of your knowledge, your simplicity, ambition, and excellence,” the President said, while also acknowledging the support of Oyedele’s family, especially his wife, in enabling him to meet the demands of public service.
The President further described the new minister as a committed and determined professional whose contributions have helped to overhaul what he termed an outdated and inefficient tax structure.
He noted that the task ahead remains challenging, particularly in balancing fiscal responsibility with the need to stimulate economic growth, but expressed confidence in Oyedele’s ability to deliver.
Oyedele, an indigene of Ikaram-Akoko in Ondo State, is a renowned economist, accountant, and public policy expert with extensive experience spanning over two decades in both the public and private sectors.
He began his academic journey at Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance, before proceeding to Oxford Brookes University for a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Accounting.
He has also attended executive education programmes at globally respected institutions, including the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Before his appointment, Oyedele spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he rose to become Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader, playing a pivotal role in shaping tax policy and advisory services across the continent.
He is also an academic, serving as a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and as a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.
The swearing-in is expected to further reinforce the Federal Government’s fiscal reform agenda as it seeks to stabilise the economy, enhance revenue generation, and improve the overall ease of doing business in Nigeria.
