President Bola Tinubu has forwarded an additional 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, bringing the latest batch to 35 after three earlier names were announced during the week. The list, released on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, includes both career and non-career diplomats.
According to the statement, 15 nominees are career officers, while 17 are non-career appointees. Those on the non-career list include former INEC Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; former First Ladies Angela Adebayo and Florence Ajimobi; former Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Lagos Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro; and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was urged to “consider and confirm them promptly.”
If confirmed, the ambassadors are expected to be posted to countries with strategic ties to Nigeria, including China, India, Canada, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kenya and Mexico, as well as Nigeria’s Permanent Missions to the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union. Their specific postings will be released after Senate approval. President Tinubu has indicated that more nominees will follow.
The list also includes four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees. The 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), Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara) and Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
Ambassadors represent Nigeria abroad and are responsible for advancing the country’s interests in their host nations. Career ambassadors are trained Foreign Service officers with years of diplomatic experience, while non-career ambassadors are appointed by the President based on expertise or political considerations.
Tinubu’s administration has been updating Nigeria’s diplomatic roster as part of its foreign policy repositioning efforts.
See full list below:
Below is the full list:
Non-Career Ambassadors (17 nominees)
Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
Reno Omokri (Delta) – Former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi) – Former INEC Chairman
Erelu Bisi Angela Adebayo (Ekiti) – Former Ekiti First Lady
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) – Former Governor of Enugu State
Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina) – Former Speaker, Katsina House of Assembly
Yakubu N. Gambo (Plateau) – Former Plateau Commissioner, ex-Deputy Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission
Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau) – Former Senator
Otunba Femi Pedro (Lagos) – Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun) – Former Aviation Minister
Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra) – Legal practitioner
Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) – Former First Lady of Oyo State
Lola Akande (Lagos) – Former Lagos State Commissioner
Grace Bent (Adamawa) – Former Senator
Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) – Former Governor of Abia State
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) – Businessman and former Senator
Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue) – Former Ambassador to the Holy See
Career Ambassadors (15 nominees)
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)
Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)
The prospective envoys will be deployed to strategic nations such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. They will also serve in major international missions, including the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Their specific assignments will be finalised and announced after the Senate completes the confirmation process.
