…..Sends 35 Nominees to Senate for Confirmation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a list of 35 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, aiming to fill vacancies left since the recall of all ambassadors in September 2023.
The list includes 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors, with 32 names following an earlier submission of three nominees earlier in the week.
Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga highlighted the administration’s focus on gender balance and regional representation, noting that four women were nominated as career ambassadors and six as non-career ambassadors.
Among the non-career nominees are notable figures such as Reno Omokri (Delta), former presidential aide; Mahmood Yakubu, ex-INEC Chairman; Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation; Erelu Angela Adebayo, former Ekiti First Lady; Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor of Enugu; Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia); Kayode Are (Ogun), former DG of State Security Service; Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa); Ayodele Oke (Oyo), former DG of National Intelligence Agency; and Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman and serving senator.
The career nominees consist of experienced diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing diverse states across Nigeria.
Tinubu emphasized that the appointments are part of his broader strategy to bolster Nigeria’s foreign policy and ensure robust representation in strategic global capitals. The nominees will undergo Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs screenings before final confirmation.
Analysts suggest that the mix of seasoned diplomats and prominent political figures reflects Tinubu’s vision to combine professional expertise with political influence in Nigeria’s diplomatic corps.
However, if confirmed, the ambassadors will advance Nigeria’s interests abroad, strengthen bilateral ties, and promote economic diplomacy aligned with the administration’s foreign policy goals.