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FG presents letters of credence, commission, recall to Ambassadors Jane Bassey Adams, Saidu Muhammad Dahiru, Femi Fani-Kayode, Ibas, others
President Bola Tinubu has charged Nigerian envoys on the need to be deliberate in the implementation of the nation’s foreign policy.
The President gave the charge at the Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja, during the presentation of letters of credence, letters of commission and letters of recall to newly appointed ambassadors.
The envoys were the Nigerian High Commissioner-Designate to Jamaica, with concurrent accreditation to the Dominican Republic, Belize and Haiti, and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the International Seabed Authority, Ambassador Jane Bassey Adams; the Nigerian High Commissioner-Designate to India, with concurrent accreditation to Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Ambassador Saidu Muhammad Dahiru; the Nigerian High Commissioner-Designate to the Republic of South Africa, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode; the Nigerian Ambassador-Designate to Hungary, with concurrent accreditation to Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia, Ambassador Abass Briamah; the Nigerian Ambassador-Designate to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Philip Ikurusi; and the Nigerian Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines, Ambassador Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, among others.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said the President’s expectations of his envoys were evident in what he envisioned for Nigeria at this time through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Enikanolaiye also said it was the expectation of President Tinubu that the envoys take the agenda to the rest of the world and pursue it with singularity of purpose and vision in a manner that harnesses the benefits of Nigeria’s foreign policy engagements for national development.
“National development is defined in terms of defence, in terms of security, in terms of job creation, in terms of poverty eradication so that Nigerians can feel more of the impact of foreign policy in what we do.
“And he has asked me to emphasise the link in this context between foreign policy and domestic policy. Whatever we do at home is what we project, and vice versa. But more importantly, by way of reiteration, foreign policy must feed more directly into national development aspirations,” Enikanolaiye said.
Enikanolaiye, who acknowledged that resources remain a major challenge, however, said the government relied on the capacity of the envoys, particularly the non-career envoys, as major assets in terms of access.
He further said both the ministry and the envoys would partner in a manner that would eventually project and promote Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives as anchored on the 4Ds.
Enikanolaiye, a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, congratulated the envoys and wished them the very best in the discharge of their duties.
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He assured them of the government’s unstinting support and cooperation.
Speaking on the evacuation of Nigerians from the Republic of South Africa, Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu is committed to the welfare of Nigerians all over the world.
“You see what is going on in South Africa. Mr President has committed to evacuation. We are mounting the fourth flight this week and there is yet another flight that we will mount next week,” Enikanolaiye added.
He also said the President had paid for Nigerians in South Africa to be evacuated, which was why the government had been able to mount the flights almost on a weekly basis.
“That speaks to the Nigerian people,” Enikanolaiye stated.
Responding on behalf of the envoys, Ibas expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers, the permanent secretary, the directors and staff who, over the last six months, prepared them for the onerous task of representing Nigeria in various countries.
The former Chief of Naval Staff also said the envoys had been adequately groomed and prepared for the task ahead and fully understood the President’s mandate and what was expected of them in their various postings.
“I want to assure you, honourable minister, that as we go out there, we will not only accomplish the mission of the Ministry, but will also proceed to ensure that Mr President’s priorities are equally achieved through our actions.
“We want to assure you also that we will project the image of Nigeria beyond where we are today,” Ibas said.
