Sunday November 30, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, just days after submitting the first batch of three nominees.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the upper chamber to “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadorial nominees.
According to the list released by presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, four women are among the career diplomats, while six women feature on the non-career list.
The non-career ambassadorial nominees include several well-known figures across politics, governance, and public service. Among them are:
Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
Reno Omokri (Delta), former presidential aide
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC Chairman
Erelu Angela Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti State
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor of Enugu State
Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly
Yakubu N. Gambo, former UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary and ex-Plateau Commissioner
Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, former Senator from Plateau State
Otunba Femi Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister (Osun)
Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former First Lady of Oyo State
Lola Akande, former Lagos Commissioner
Grace Bent, former Senator representing Adamawa State
Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, lawyer and businessman (Ondo)
Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu, former envoy to the Vatican (Benue)
Career Ambassadors and High Commissioner Nominees
The 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)
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)
The new nominees are expected to be deployed to strategic diplomatic locations where Nigeria maintains strong bilateral relations. These include: China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, as well as multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Their specific postings will be determined after Senate confirmation.
Last week, President Tinubu submitted the first batch of three ambassadorial nominees:
Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo)
Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa)
Retired Col. Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)
They are expected to be posted to the United Kingdom, United States, or France upon confirmation.
President Tinubu however indicated that further nominations will be announced soon, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic representation across the world.
