Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, is recovering from an undisclosed illness and may soon travel abroad for further medical care, officials confirmed on October 12, 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has delegated Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to lead the country’s delegation at the upcoming World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Washington, DC, which begin on October 14.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, affirmed Edun’s condition on Sunday evening, saying;
Yes, he’s indisposed. Wale Edun is about 69 years old. He suddenly fell ill. As we are talking, he is in Nigeria. He is recuperating. He’s around – Bayo
Contrary to earlier speculation, an anonymous source close to the minister dismissed rumours that Edun had suffered a stroke or had been transported abroad.
The minister’s illness has prompted speculation about his future in office, with some reports suggesting President Tinubu may consider a replacement. However, no official confirmation has been made regarding this possibility.The Presidency explained that Edun will not attend the global financial meetings this year, with Cardoso stepping in to represent Nigeria.
Wale Edun was appointed Minister of Finance on August 28, 2023, and has played a central role in Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, focusing on stabilizing Nigeria’s currency, combating inflation, and attracting foreign investment. Before this appointment, Edun served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance from 1999 to 2004 under Tinubu’s administration.
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