Abuja – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded the names of 32 individuals to the Senate for confirmation as ambassadors, a week after submitting an initial batch of three nominees. In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the president requested the upper chamber to expedite the confirmation of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non‑career ambassadors. The career list includes four women, while the non‑career list contains six women.
The non‑career nominees include former presidential aide Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former INEC chairman Reno Omokri (Delta), former Ekiti first lady Mahmud Yakubu, former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Katsina House of Assembly speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Plateau Commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo, former senator Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau), former Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro, former aviation minister Chief Femi Fani‑Kayode (Osun), and former Anambra barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, among others. Also named are former Oyo first lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos commissioner Lola Akande, former Adamawa senator Grace Bent, former Abia governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Ondo businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and former ambassador to the Holy See Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue).
Career ambassador nominees 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), 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 (Kawara) and Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
The nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains strong bilateral ties, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya, as well as to permanent missions including the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union. Their specific assignments will be confirmed after Senate approval.
In a statement released by the State House, President Tinubu said, “More nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon.” Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, added that the president remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s diplomatic corps reflects the nation’s diversity and strategic interests.
The Senate is now expected to review the nominations and proceed with confirmation hearings in the coming weeks.
