By Abubakar Yunusa
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, on his appointment as a commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by King Charles III.
Edun was recognised with the honour for his longstanding and impactful service to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, a globally respected youth development initiative that equips young people with life skills, leadership capacity, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award operates in more than 130 countries and territories, including Nigeria, where thousands of young people benefit from structured programmes focused on personal development, community service, physical well-being, and skills acquisition.
In a statement on Tuesday, President Tinubu described the honour as well deserved, noting that it reflects Edun’s decades-long commitment to empowering young people and strengthening institutions that nurture leadership and character.
He added that Edun’s international recognition aligns with the core priorities of his administration, particularly youth empowerment, human capital development, and national renewal.
“Mr Edun’s recognition by His Majesty, King Charles III is a testament to a lifetime of service that transcends borders and speaks to the universal values of mentorship, discipline, and opportunity for young people,” the statement reads.
Analysts say the minister’s pivotal role in President Tinubu’s economic reforms also accounted for his recognition by King Charles III.
Under his watch, Nigeria has witnessed strong revenue growth and fiscal performance, generating N6.9 trillion in Q1 2025, which represented about 40 percent year-on-year growth, attributed to FX policy reforms and improved fiscal governance.
Edun has supervised Nigeria’s economy growth, improving by 4.23 percent in Q2 2025, the highest quarterly expansion in a decade outside the post-COVID rebound, with broad-based sectoral contributions.
Edun has championed the release and use of the rebased growth domestic product (GDP), giving a clearer picture of economic diversification beyond oil.
He also spearheaded the successful issuance of the country’s $2.35 billion in Eurobonds with a record-breaking order book, signalling strong investor confidence in the economy.
Inflation has decelerated for the seventh consecutive period and is now below 15 percent, reflecting improving price stability and the effectiveness of coordinated fiscal and monetary actions.
