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President Bola Tinubu has submitted a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees—15 career diplomats and 17 non-career candidates—to the Senate for confirmation, marking a major expansion of Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic reconstitution

Tinubu Sends Fresh 32 Ambassadorial Nominees to Senate, Expands Nigeria’s Diplomatic Shake-Up

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, signalling a major expansion in the ongoing reconstitution of Nigeria’s foreign service corps. The new list comes just days after the President forwarded an initial batch of three nominees.

In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the expeditious consideration of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career nominees, describing the list as a careful blend of diplomats, technocrats, administrators, and political figures.

The President’s correspondence also highlighted improved gender representation, with four women among the career diplomats and six women featured on the non-career list.

Prominent Figures on the Non-Career Ambassadorial List

The non-career nominees include several high-profile political and public leaders:

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  • Ogbonnaya Kalu, former presidential aide (Abia)
  • Reno Omokri (Delta)
  • Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, former INEC Chairman
  • Erelu Angela Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti
  • Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor of Enugu State

Others on the list are former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Plateau commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo; former UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary Tasiu Ibrahim; former Senator Nora Ladi Daduut; ex-Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; and Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra).

Also nominated are former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi; ex-Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent; former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; and Ondo Senator and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim.
Former ambassador to the Vatican, Paul Oga Adikwu, also returns to the list.

Career Ambassadors and High Commissioner Designates

The 15 career diplomats nominated include:

  • 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)

Others on the list are:
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).

Where They May Be Posted

Once confirmed, the nominees are expected to be deployed to countries with which Nigeria maintains strong strategic and economic ties — including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya.
They may also be assigned to key multilateral missions such as:

  • The United Nations (UN)
  • UNESCO
  • The African Union (AU)

Earlier Submissions

Only last week, President Tinubu submitted three other nominees for ambassadorial postings:

  • Amb. Ayodele Oke (Oyo)
  • Amb. Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa)
  • Col. Lateef Kayode Are (Rtd.) (Ogun)

The trio are being considered for high-profile diplomatic missions in the United States, United Kingdom, or France.

President Tinubu noted that more names will be forwarded to the Senate “in due course” as his administration continues its comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s diplomatic representation across the world. Read More

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