President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, expanding the earlier three-man list sent last week.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu urged the Upper Chamber to “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.
According to the President, the additional nominations are part of ongoing efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s representation across strategic countries and international organisations.”
The career ambassadorial nominees include four women, while six women made the non-career list.
Prominent among the non-career nominees are former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta), ex-INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Others include former Katsina Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Plateau commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo; former UBEC deputy executive secretary; former senator from Plateau State, Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut; and ex–Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro.
Also listed are former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode; Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra); former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi; ex-Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent; former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of Ondo; and former envoy to the Vatican, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue).
Among the 15 career diplomats nominated are: 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).
According to the presidency, the nominees are expected to be deployed to nations with which Nigeria maintains “excellent and strategic bilateral relationships,” including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as multilateral missions like the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
“All the nominees will know their diplomatic postings after confirmation by the Senate,” the President stated in the letter.
Last week, President Tinubu submitted three names — Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and retired Col. Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun) — who are being considered for postings to the United Kingdom, United States, or France.
The President noted that additional nominations will be announced in due course.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the nominations reflect the administration’s commitment to “ensuring Nigeria is effectively represented in key global capitals.”
He added, “Mr. President believes these nominees possess the competence and experience to advance Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and strengthen our engagements worldwide.”
