In a significant move to strengthen Nigeria's diplomatic corps, President Bola Tinubu has submitted a fresh list of thirty-two ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. This development comes just days after the President sent an initial batch of three names for legislative approval.
Comprehensive List of Nominees
The President communicated this through two separate letters addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. He specifically urged the upper legislative chamber to expedite the confirmation process for both fifteen career diplomats and seventeen non-career nominees.
Among the non-career ambassadorial nominees are several prominent political figures. The list includes Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia State; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri from Delta State; and former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu.
Other notable non-career nominees are former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Tasiu Musa Maigari. The roster also features former Plateau State Commissioner, Yakubu N. Gambo, and former Deputy Executive Secretary of UBEC, Yakubu K. Musa.
Further completing the non-career list are former Plateau senator, Professor Nora Ladi Daduut; former Lagos Deputy Governor, Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State.
The President also nominated former 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 of Ondo State; and former envoy to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
Career Diplomats and Gender Representation
The career ambassadorial nominees present a mix of experienced foreign service officers. They 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), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
Other career nominees include 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).
The nomination list demonstrates consideration for gender balance, featuring four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career nominees.
Strategic Diplomatic Postings
Upon successful confirmation by the Senate, these new ambassadors are expected to be deployed to nations where Nigeria maintains strong and strategic diplomatic relations. Potential postings include key global players such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya.
The nominees may also be assigned to represent Nigeria at important Permanent Missions including the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. The specific country assignments will be finalized after the Senate completes the confirmation process.
This latest submission follows President Tinubu's action last week, where he forwarded three other ambassadorial nominees: Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). These individuals are being considered for significant postings to the United Kingdom, United States, or France.
The President has indicated that additional ambassadorial nominations will be announced in due course, suggesting a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria's diplomatic representation abroad.
