Tinubu Submits 35 Ambassadorial Nominees to Senate, Including Fani-Kayode, Omokri

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a significant step in reshaping Nigeria's diplomatic corps by forwarding an expanded list of thirty-five ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

Composition of the Nominees

The list, officially released on Saturday, November 30, 2025, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, comprises a mix of seasoned professionals. It includes fifteen career diplomats and seventeen non-career appointees, bringing the total to thirty-two new names, with three others having been announced earlier in the week.

Among the prominent non-career nominees are several high-profile figures. These include former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The list also features former state leaders such as Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), as well as former First Ladies Erelu Bisi Angela Adebayo (Ekiti) and Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo).

Strategic Postings and Senate's Role

In his communication, President Tinubu urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to "consider and confirm them promptly." If approved by the Senate, these ambassadors are slated for deployment to nations and international bodies of strategic importance to Nigeria.

The prospective postings include key global powers and partners such as:

China
India
Canada
South Africa
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Kenya
Mexico

They are also expected to represent Nigeria at its Permanent Missions to the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. The specific assignments for each nominee will be finalized and announced after the Senate completes the confirmation process.

A Broader Diplomatic Overhaul

This move is part of the Tinubu administration's ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria's foreign policy and update its diplomatic representation abroad. The President has indicated that more nominees will follow, signaling a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's diplomatic roster.

The list also demonstrates a consideration for gender representation, featuring four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Non-Career Ambassadors (17 nominees):