By: Ahmed Rufa’i
The Senate had confirmed 32 ambassadorial nominees earlier sent to the red chamber by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a fresh move to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence across the globe.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said the list which sent to the Senate in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu urged the upper chamber to give accelerated consideration to the nominees, comprising 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors.
The lists feature a blend of seasoned diplomats, former public office holders, technocrats and political figures, including four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career nominees.
Prominent names on the non-career list include Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu former INEC Chairman, Erelu Angela Adebayo – former Ekiti First Lad, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – former Enugu Governor.
Others are former Katsina Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, ex-UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, ex-Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro, former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra).
Also nominated are ex-Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent, former Abia Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and former ambassador to the Holy See, Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu.
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), Amb. Shehu Barde (Katsina), Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara), and Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
According to President Tinubu, the envoys will be deployed to nations with which Nigeria maintains strong strategic and economic ties—such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya—as well as multilateral missions including the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union.
Last week, the President forwarded the first batch of nominees: Amb. Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Amb. Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Col. Lateef Kayode Are (Rtd.) (Ogun), shortlisted for key postings to the UK, USA, or France, pending Senate confirmation.
President Tinubu affirmed that additional ambassadorial appointments will be announced soon as part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture.
