President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expanded Nigeria’s prospective diplomatic corps with the submission of 32 new ambassadorial nominees to the Senate. The latest list follows an initial submission of three nominees last week.
In letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu requested the swift confirmation of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.
Notable names among the non-career cohort include former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu; former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Lagos deputy governor Femi Pedro; former First Ladies Angela Adebayo and Florence Ajimobi; ex-Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode; and Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide.
Others include former Plateau Senator Nora Ladi Daduut, former Katsina Speaker Tasiu Maigari, former UBEC deputy executive secretary Yakubu Gambo, and former Vatican ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu.
The career nominees list comprises Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu, Yakubu Nyaku Danladi, Miamuna Ibrahim Besto, Musa Musa Abubakar, Syndoph Paebi Endoni, Chima Geoffrey Lioma David, Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim, Abimbola Samuel Reuben, Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah, Hamza Mohammed Salau, and Ambassadors Shehu Barde, Ahmed Monguno, Muhammad Dahiru, Olatunji Sulu Gambari, and Wahab Adekola Akande.
The nominees, once screened and confirmed, will be deployed to key diplomatic missions including China, India, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, the UAE, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria’s permanent missions to the UN, AU, and UNESCO.
Last week, the President nominated Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are, who are being considered for postings to the UK, USA, or France.
According to Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, more ambassadorial nominations will follow soon.
