President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally transmitted to the National Assembly the names of sixty-eight (68) nominees for confirmation as Nigeria’s ambassadors, marking a significant step toward filling the country’s diplomatic representations across the world.
The long-awaited submission effectively ends more than two years of Tinubu’s administration operating without appointed envoys to head Nigeria’s missions, embassies, and consulates in various countries.
PRNigeria recalls that the Federal Government had come under intense pressure from stakeholders and foreign observers to expedite the appointment of ambassadors, especially at a time Nigeria faced allegations of Christian persecution and genocide raised by some United States senators, congressmen, and foreign lobbyists.
The new ambassadorial appointments are expected to play a crucial role in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, and safeguarding the nation’s image and strategic interests in the international system.
Out of the 68 nominees, 34 are career diplomats while the remaining 34 are non-career appointees, with selections drawn from states across the six geopolitical zones.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs screened and cleared three nominees—Ayodele Oke, Kayode Are, and Aminu Dalhatu—who formed part of the first batch sent to the Senate by President Tinubu. Their screening followed an intensive session at the National Assembly.
See the full list below:
CAREER AMBASSADORS (34):
1. Abia: Ambassador Mwaobiola Ezeuwo Chukwuemeka
2. Adamawa: Maimuna Ibrahim
3. Anambra: Enpeji Monica Okochukwu
4. Bauchi: Ambassador Mohammed Mahmoud Lele
5. Bayelsa: Endoni Sindup
6. Borno: Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno
7. Cross River: Ambassador Jen Adams Ni Okun Michael
8. Delta: Ambassador Clark Omeru Alexandra
9. Ebonyi: Chima J. Leoma Davies
10. Edo: Oduma Yvonne Ehinose
11. Edo: Wasa Shogun Ige
12. Ekiti: Ambassador Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel
13. Enugu: Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley
14. Jigawa: Ambassador Magaji Umar
15. Kaduna: Ambassador Mohammed Saidu Dahiru
16. Kano: Ambassador Abdul Salam Abus Zayat
17. Katsina: Ambassador Shehu
18. Katsina: Ambassador Aminu Nasu
19. Kebbi: Abubakar Musa Musa
20. Kebbi: Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris
21. Kogi: Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar
22. Kwara: Ambassador Sulu Gambari
23. Lagos: Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle
24. Nasarawa: Ambassador Shaga John Shama
25. Niger: Salau Hamza Mohammed
26. Niger: Ambassador Ibrahim Dan Lamy
27. Ogun: Adjola Ibrahim Mopolola
28. Ondo: Ruben Abimbola Samuel
29. Osun: Ambassador Akonde Wahab Adekola
30. Oyo: Ambassador Ariwani Adedokun Esther
31. Plateau: Ambassador Gedagi Joseph John
32. Rivers: Ambassador Luther Obomode Ayokatata
33. Taraba: Danladi Yakubu Yaku
34. Zamfara: Bidu Dogondagi
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS (31):
35. Abia: Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu
36. Abia: Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu
37. Adamawa: Senator Grace Bent
38. Akwa Ibom: Senator Eta Enang
39. Anambra: Nkechi Linda Okocha
40. Bauchi: Mahmoud Yakubu
41. Bayelsa: Philip K. Ikurusi
42. Benue: Paul Olga Adiku
43. Cross River: Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd.)
44. Delta: Reno Omokri
45. Edo: Hon. Abbasi Brahma
46. Ekiti: Erelu Angela Adebayo
47. Ekiti: Barrister Olumilua Oluwayemika
48. Enugu: Rt. Hon. Ugwanyi Ifeanyi
49. Imo: Barr. Mrs. Chioma Ohakim
50. Kano: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd.)
51. Katsina: Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari
52. Kogi: Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Aliu
53. Lagos: Olufemi Pedro
54. Nasarawa: Barr. Mohammed Obanduma Aliu
55. Ondo: Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD
56. Ondo: Ambassador Joseph Yusuf Shara’aji
57. Osun: Fani-Kayode
58. Oyo: Ajimobi Fatima Florence
59. Oyo: Lola Akande
60. Plateau: Yakubu N. Gambo
61. Plateau: Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut
62. Rivers: Onweze Chukwudi
63. Sokoto: Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar
64. Taraba: Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe
65. Yobe: Adamu Garba Tarba-Nagri
FIRST BATCH CLEARED BY SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (3):
66. Oyo State: Ayodele Oke
67. Jigawa: Amin Mohammed Dalhatu
68. Ogun: Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are