President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a second batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, coming days after he submitted an initial list of three nominees.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu urged the upper chamber to “expeditiously” consider and confirm 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassador-designates.
The development was announced in a statement on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga noted that the list includes four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career nominees.
Non-career ambassador-designates:
- Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu — Abia
- Reno Omokri (a former presidential aide) — Delta
- Mahmud Yakubu (former INEC chairman) — Bauchi
- Erelu Angela Adebayo (former Ekiti First Lady) — Ekiti
- Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (former Enugu governor) — Enugu
- Tasiu Musa Maigari (former Katsina Assembly speaker) — Katsina.
- Yakubu N. Gambo (a former Plateau Commissioner and former UBEC deputy executive secretary) — Plateau.
- Professor Nora Ladi Daduut (a former senator) — Plateau.
- Otunba Femi Pedro (former deputy governor) — Lagos.
- Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (a former aviation minister) — Osun State.
- Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu — Anambra State.
- Fatima Florence Ajimobi (former Oyo First Lady) — Oyo State.
- Lola Akande (former Commissioner) — Lagos
- Grace Bent (former Senator) — Adamawa.
- Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (former governor) — Abia State.
- Senator Jimoh Ibrahim — Ondo State.
- Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu ( former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See) — Benue State.
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Career Ambassadors nominees
Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates 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
- 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
Continuing, the statement explained that the “new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.”
Last week, President Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation.
The nominees, according to a letter read on the floor of the Senate by Akpabio, were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.
