Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has submitted 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, urging swift confirmation to complement the initial batch of three nominees submitted last week.
According to a statement from Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, recorded in two letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu put forward 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career appointees, representing a wide spectrum of political and professional backgrounds. The list notably features four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career group, reflecting significant gender representation.
Among the prominent non-career nominees are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide; Reno Omokri from Delta, public commentator and former presidential aide; Mahmud Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Erelu Angela Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor of Enugu State; Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly; Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau State Commissioner and ex-Deputy Executive Secretary of UBEC; Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, former Senator from Plateau State; Otunba Femi Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation; Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra; Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former First Lady of Oyo State; Lola Akande, former Lagos Commissioner; Grace Bent, former Senator; Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman and lawyer; and Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See.
The 15 career ambassadorial nominees include seasoned diplomats and public service veterans: Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
Other News
President Tinubu emphasised the importance of these appointments in strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic footprint globally. “These nominees will be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, ensuring that our foreign policy objectives are advanced effectively,” he said.
Proposed diplomatic postings include key partner countries such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, alongside multilateral bodies like the UN, UNESCO, and the African Union. Final assignments will be disclosed following Senate confirmation.
This announcement follows the previous nomination of Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), who are expected to be posted to leading countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, and France.
President Tinubu noted further ambassadorial appointments will be announced in due course as part of the administration’s broader diplomatic strategy.
