President Bola Tinubu
LAGOS, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, intensifying his administration’s diplomatic reshuffle and urging lawmakers to give the list “swift consideration and approval.”
In letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President said the nominees—comprising 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career candidates—were selected to strengthen Nigeria’s global representation.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, who released the list on Saturday, noted that more names would be transmitted to the Senate in the coming days. “More nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon,” he stated.
The new list features several prominent public figures, including former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-INEC chairman Professor Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, former Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Other nominees include Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, and Fatima Florence Ajimobi.
Officials say the President deliberately included four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career group to “ensure balanced representation” across missions.
Career ambassador-designates such as Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu, Yakubu Nyaku Danladi, Miamuna Ibrahim Besto, Musa Musa Abubakar and Ambassador Shehu Barde are expected to be posted to strategic countries including China, India, South Korea, Canada, the UAE, as well as key multilateral missions such as the United Nations and African Union.
Tinubu’s latest transmission follows last week’s submission of three earlier nominees—Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu and Col. Lateef Kayode Are (rtd.)—who may be deployed to the UK, USA or France subject to Senate approval.
Officials say the wave of appointments is aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s foreign service for improved diplomacy, trade relations and international cooperation.
