𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐛𝐮 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐔𝐩, 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟑𝟐 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding the ongoing overhaul of Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership. This second batch arrives only days after the first three names were submitted.

In two letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested swift screening and confirmation of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees. The list includes 10 women, reflecting a broader spread of gender representation in Nigeria’s foreign service.

Non-Career Ambassador Nominees

• Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)

• Reno Omokri (Delta)

• Mahmud Yakubu (former INEC Chairman)

• Erelu Angela Adebayo (former Ekiti First Lady)

• Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (former Enugu Governor)

• Tasiu Musa Maigari (former Katsina Speaker)

• Yakubu N. Gambo (former Plateau Commissioner)

• Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut (former Plateau Senator)

• Otunba Femi Pedro (former Lagos Deputy Governor)

• Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (former Aviation Minister)

• Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)

• Fatima Florence Ajimobi (former Oyo First Lady)

• Lola Akande (former Lagos Commissioner)

• Grace Bent (former Adamawa Senator)

• Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (former Abia Governor)

• Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)

• Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue)

Career Ambassador Nominees

• Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)

• Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba)

• Maimuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa)

• Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi)

• Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)

• Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)

• Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun)

• 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)

• Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)

Likely Postings

The nominees are expected to be assigned to key nations where Nigeria maintains strategic diplomatic relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya. Others will be deployed to multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.

Earlier Nominations

Last week, Tinubu forwarded an initial set of three nominees for confirmation:

• Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo)

• Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa)

• Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)

They are believed to be under consideration for postings to the United Kingdom, United States or France.

More ambassadorial appointments are expected as the administration continues restructuring Nigeria’s foreign mission leadership.