PRESIDENT TINUBU UNVEILS LIST OF 32 AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEES, ABIA GETS THREE NOMINEES AS SENATE BEGINS CONFIRMATION PROCESS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has released a comprehensive new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees, comprising both career and non-career diplomats, marking a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic representation across the world. The fresh list comes just days after he forwarded an initial batch to the National Assembly.

In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the screening and confirmation of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors, making a total of 32 nominees, including 10 women.

According to Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, “Among the non-career ambassador designates are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.”

He added: “Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

“Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.

“Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.

“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) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).

“The other nominees are 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) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).”

With three nominees emerging from Abia State: Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (non-career), Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (career), and former Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (non-career), the state records one of the highest representations on the list.

FULL LIST OF THE 32 AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEES

NON-CAREER AMBASSADOR NOMINEES (17)

1. Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu – Abia

2. Reno Omokri – Delta

3. Mahmood Yakubu – Former INEC Chairman

4. Erelu Angela Adebayo – Former Ekiti First Lady

5. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Former Governor, Enugu

6. Tasiu Musa Maigari – Former Speaker, Katsina House of Assembly

7. Yakubu N. Gambo – Former Commissioner, Plateau State

8. Professor Nora Ladi Daduut – Former Senator, Plateau

9. Otunba Femi Pedro – Former Deputy Governor, Lagos State

10. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode – Former Aviation Minister

11. Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu – Anambra

12. Fatima Florence Ajimobi – Former Oyo First Lady

13. Lola Akande – Former Commissioner, Lagos

14. Grace Bent – Former Senator, Adamawa

15. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu – Former Governor, Abia

16. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim – Ondo

17. Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu – Former Ambassador to the Holy See

CAREER AMBASSADOR NOMINEES (15)

1. Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu – Abia

2. Yakubu Nyaku Danladi – Taraba

3. Miamuna Ibrahim Besto – Adamawa

4. Musa Musa Abubakar – Kebbi

5. Syndoph Paebi Endoni – Bayelsa

6. Chima Geoffrey Lioma David – Ebonyi

7. Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim – Ogun

8. Abimbola Samuel Reuben – Ondo

9. Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah – Edo

10. Hamza Mohammed Salau – Niger

11. Ambassador Shehu Barde – Katsina

12. Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno – Borno

13. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – Kaduna

14. Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari – Kwara

15. Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande – Osun

The nominees are expected to be deployed to countries with which Nigeria maintains strong bilateral relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.

All nominees will receive their specific postings after their confirmation by the Senate. More names for ambassadorial appointments are still expected, according to the Presidency.