Tinubu Names 5-Man Nigeria’s Delegation To Pope Francis’ Funeral

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has constituted a five-member delegation to Vatican City in Rome to attend the burial of Pope Francis on Saturday.

In a statement on Friday, presidential adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the burial ceremony.

According to the statement, other members of the delegation are the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.

Pope Francis, the revered head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 88, after appearing for Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican a day earlier.

Onanuga notes that the delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.