Tinubu sends Akpabio, ministers and three archbishops to attend Pope Francis’ funeral (

Ahmed Tinubu has named Bola Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Godswill Akpabio, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu and Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah as members of a high-level Nigerian delegation that will travel to Vatican City on Saturday, April 26, to attend Pope Francis’ funeral. Senate President Other members of the delegation include Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama, Archbishop to Pope Francis. Sokoto Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Friday that Godswill Akpabio will lead the five-member delegation.

According to the statement, the delegation will be presented to the Acting Head of the Vatican. AbujaOn Monday, President Tinubu joined Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, whom he described as “a humble servant of God, a tireless defender of the poor, a shining example for millions”.

Senate PresidentIn his message of condolence, President Tinubu noted that Pope Francis died shortly after the feast of Christ’s Resurrection, a sacred way for Christians to return to the Creator in a time of new hope.

Pope Francis, the revered leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after he arrived at the Vatican for Easter celebrations.

World leaders have arrived at the Vatican for his funeral.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milley are among the leaders who will arrive at the Vatican for the last day of public appearance of the Argentine pope in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday.

The Vatican announced that 130 delegations had been confirmed for the funeral, including 50 heads of state and 10 sitting rulers. Sunday Tens of thousands of mourners lined up for hours to bid farewell to Francis, who died on Monday of a stroke at the age of 88.