The Senate has approved the nominations of three non-career ambassadors, marking the first batch of ambassadorial appointments submitted by President Bola Tinubu and recently screened by the upper legislative chamber.
Those confirmed are Lateef Kayode Kolawole Are from Ogun State, Aminu Muhammad Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, CFR, representing Oyo State.
Their confirmation followed the adoption of the report presented by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which conducted the screening exercise last week. While the three nominees have now been cleared, sixty-four other ambassadorial nominees who were also screened by the Senate are still awaiting confirmation.
President Tinubu transmitted the names of the three non-career nominees to the Senate on November 26, in what became his first official ambassadorial list since assuming office on May 29, 2023. He later submitted an additional list containing 32 nominees for ambassadorial positions.
Among those nominated are a former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; immediate past INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; and ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The expanded list also features a former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; ex-Lagos deputy governor, Femi Pedro; Ondo senator and businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim; former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; and former Adamawa senator, Grace Bent.
Gender representation in the nominations shows four women among the career ambassador nominees and six women listed under the non-career category.
Additional non-career ambassadorial nominees include Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia State; former Katsina State House of Assembly speaker, Tasiu Musa Maigari; Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Plateau State commissioner and ex-UBEC deputy executive secretary; former Plateau senator, Nora Ladi Daduut; Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State; former Oyo first lady, Fatima Florence Ajimobi; ex-Lagos commissioner, Lola Akande; and former Nigerian ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
President Tinubu also nominated several career ambassadors and high commissioner-designates. These include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu from Abia, Yakubu Nyaku Danladi from Taraba, Miamuna Ibrahim Besto from Adamawa, Musa Musa Abubakar from Kebbi, Syndoph Paebi Endoni from Bayelsa, Chima Geoffrey Lioma David from Ebonyi, and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim from Ogun. Others on the list are Abimbola Samuel Reuben from Ondo, Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah from Edo, Hamza Mohammed Salau from Niger, Ambassador Shehu Barde from Katsina, Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno from Borno, Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru from Kaduna, Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari from Kawara, and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande from Osun.
What you should know
The confirmation of these three non-career ambassadors represents the first concrete step in President Tinubu’s effort to reconstitute Nigeria’s diplomatic representation since assuming office.
While many nominees are still awaiting Senate approval, the process signals renewed momentum in Nigeria’s foreign service appointments.
The wide mix of political figures, former governors, electoral officials and career diplomats reflects an attempt to balance experience, political reward and professional diplomacy as Nigeria seeks to reposition its international engagements.
