Nigeria has been elected to the 35-member Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the 2026–2028 term, with Ambassador Dr. Fatima Florence Ajimobi appointed as the country’s Governor on the Board.
The Federal Government announced the development in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, and signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi. The election took place on September 17, 2026, during the seventh plenary session of the 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria. Recent reports also confirm Nigeria’s election and Ajimobi’s appointment.
Nigeria was elected alongside 10 other countries — Angola, Brazil, Greece, Honduras, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovakia and Sweden — to serve on the 35-member governing body.
The new membership places Nigeria among countries responsible for participating in deliberations that shape the policies, programmes and priorities of the IAEA, particularly in nuclear safety and security, safeguards, peaceful applications of nuclear technology and international cooperation.
The Federal Government described the election as an opportunity for Nigeria to contribute more actively to international discussions on the peaceful and developmental use of nuclear science and technology.
It also congratulated Ambassador Ajimobi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Austria and Resident Representative to the IAEA, on her appointment as Governor.
According to the government, Ajimobi’s new responsibility will enable her to provide effective representation for Nigeria and engage constructively in policy discussions aimed at advancing the mandate of the IAEA as well as Nigeria’s nuclear priorities and interests.
The development comes at a time when nuclear safety, security and safeguards remain prominent issues in international discussions on the application of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.
Beyond nuclear energy, the technology has applications across several sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, food security, water-resource management, environmental sustainability and energy planning.
The Federal Government said Nigeria’s election should therefore be viewed not only as recognition of the country’s commitment to the IAEA’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” mandate, but also as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and contribute to global nuclear governance.
With the election, Nigeria will participate in the Board’s activities during the 2026–2027 period and retain its membership for the 2027–2028 period.
The composition of the Board for 2026–2027 includes Angola, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Togo, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The IAEA Board of Governors is one of the Agency’s principal policy-making bodies, alongside the annual General Conference of its Member States.
Established on July 29, 1957, the IAEA serves as the central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field.
Nigeria became a member of the IAEA in 1964 and has maintained cooperation with the Agency across several areas of nuclear science and technology.
Under its current Country Programme Framework for 2024–2029, Nigeria’s cooperation with the Agency focuses on five priority areas: nuclear and radiation safety and security; food and agriculture; health and nutrition; water and environment; and energy planning and development.
The government said the framework reflects Nigeria’s efforts to harness nuclear science and technology for national development while ensuring that its applications are safe, secure and peaceful.
Ajimobi’s appointment also places her at the centre of Nigeria’s engagement with the IAEA’s governance structure. As Governor, she will represent Nigeria in Board proceedings and related engagements. Recent reports similarly identified her as Nigeria’s representative on the Board following the country’s election.
The Federal Government commended Ambassador Ajimobi and the Embassy of Nigeria in Vienna for the outcome, expressing confidence that the new Governor would effectively represent the country’s interests in the Agency.
It further said Nigeria would continue to work with the IAEA, its Member States and other international partners to strengthen nuclear safety and security and promote the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.
The government stressed that Nigeria’s continued engagement with the IAEA would support efforts to expand the application of nuclear technology to areas critical to national development, while contributing to international cooperation and shared prosperity.
The election consequently gives Nigeria a formal role in the 35-member Board during the 2026–2028 cycle, at a period when nuclear technology is being discussed not only in relation to energy but also its wider applications in health, agriculture, water management, food security and environmental protection.
