President Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval for Three Ambassador Nominees
President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Nigerian Senate to confirm the appointments of three new non-career ambassadors. This significant move comes nearly two years after the President recalled all of Nigeria's ambassadors, both career and non-career, back in September 2023.
The three nominees put forward for this crucial diplomatic roles are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke from Oyo State. Their collective nominations are widely viewed as a strategic effort to bolster Nigeria's international representation with individuals possessing deep expertise in diplomacy, intelligence, and national security.
Profiles of the Ambassador-Designates
Ayodele Oke (Oyo State)
Ayodele Oke is presented as a retired career diplomat and former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He boasts a distinguished career that spans more than three decades within Nigeria's foreign affairs and intelligence sectors.
- He served as Nigeria's top intelligence chief from November 2013 to October 2017, following an appointment by former President Goodluck Jonathan. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing external intelligence operations, including critical counter-terrorism efforts and strategic intelligence gathering.
- Prior to that, Oke represented Nigeria as the Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London from approximately 2005 to 2009. There, he engaged in multilateral diplomacy and contributed to policy dialogues among the 56-member organisation.
- His career foundation was built in the Nigerian Foreign Service, where he focused on international relations and consular affairs.
Kayode Are (Ogun State)
Lateef Kayode Are, born in 1955, is a retired Nigerian Army Colonel and former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS).
- He is an academic high-flyer, graduating with First Class Honours in Psychology from the University of Ibadan in 1980, where he earned multiple academic prizes. He later obtained a Master's degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos in 1987.
- Are was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1974 after completing the Nigerian Defence Academy's Regular Combatant Course 12. He rose to the rank of Colonel before his compulsory retirement in 1993.
- He holds the record as the longest-serving Director General of the SSS, occupying the position from May 1999 to August 2007 under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar'Adua.
- He also had a brief stint as the Acting National Security Adviser from September 18 to October 4, 2010, following the resignation of General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.
Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State)
Aminu Muhammad Dalhatu is described as a seasoned career diplomat with extensive experience in bilateral diplomacy.
- He previously served as Nigeria's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea between 2017 and 2023. He presented his Letters of Credence in September 2017 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
- During his tenure in Seoul, he managed diplomatic operations, provided consular services, and actively promoted Nigeria-Korea relations, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.
- Dalhatu's career includes several other postings within the Nigerian Foreign Service, where he contributed to the implementation of the country's foreign policy and advanced his diplomatic training.
Background and Next Steps for Confirmation
This development follows reports that President Tinubu had received a list of ambassador-designates that had been cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS). According to sources, all necessary security and background checks on the nominees have been completed. The list was awaiting the President's final approval before being transmitted to the Senate for the mandatory screening and confirmation process, paving the way for these seasoned professionals to take up their new roles and strengthen Nigeria's diplomatic missions abroad.
