President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, coming only days after he submitted an initial batch of three names
The update was released on Saturday through a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu, in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requested quick confirmation of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees. Onanuga noted that the new list includes four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career picks.
The statement highlighted several notable figures among the non-career nominees, including Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, former presidential aide Reno Omokri from Delta, former INEC chairman Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Others named are former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, ex-Plateau commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo, and a former UBEC deputy executive secretary.
Also listed are Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, former Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro, former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode from Osun, and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra. Joining them are former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos commissioner Lola Akande, ex-Adamawa senator Grace Bent, former Abia governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of Ondo, and former Vatican envoy Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue.
For the career ambassadorial and high commissioner positions, the nominees 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), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun). Others 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).
According to the statement, the new appointees will be deployed to countries considered crucial to Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic interests, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will be assigned to multilateral posts such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union once Senate confirmation is completed.
Tinubu had earlier sent three names for screening last week: Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). They are being considered for postings to the UK, USA, or France.
Tinubu added that additional ambassadorial nominations will be unveiled soon.
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