Yemi Obafemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions and the United Nations, comprising 31 non-career and 34 career diplomats.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the Senate had earlier confirmed the ambassadors-designate in December.
Among the non-career ambassadors approved for postings are Grace Bent to Lomé, Togo; Ita Enang to South Africa; Victor Ikpeazu to Spain; Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu to Tel Aviv, Israel; and Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar.
Others include Reno Omokri to Mexico City, Mexico; Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the Philippines; Olufemi Pedro to Australia; Lateef Kayode Are to the United States; Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany.
Also on the list are Isaak Folorunso Adewole to Canada; Fatima Florence Ajimobi to Austria; Lola Akande to Sweden; Ayodele Oke to France; Yakubu N. Gambo to Saudi Arabia; Nora Ladi Daduut to Seoul, South Korea; and Joe Okocha to Dublin, Ireland.
The career ambassadors posted to various missions include Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire; Maimuna Ibrahim Besto to Niger Republic; Monica Okwuchukwu Enebichi to São Tomé and Príncipe; Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria; and Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt.
Other postings include Jane Adams Michael to Jamaica; Alexandra Clark-Omeru to Zambia; Geoffrey Lioma David Chima to Mali; Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah to Equatorial Guinea; and Segun Ige to Lebanon.
Further appointments include Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to India; Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal; Shehu Ilu Barde to Ghana; Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia; Abubakar Musa Musa to Chad; and Mohammed Idris Haidara to the Netherlands.
The list also includes Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco; Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed to Malaysia; Romata Mohammed Omobolanle to Tanzania; John Shamah Shaga to Botswana; Hamza Mohammed Salau to Iran; and Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya.
According to the presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Aminu Dalhatu, while France has also granted agrément for Ambassador Ayodele Oke.
The ministry has also forwarded the nominations of the remaining envoys to their respective host countries, requesting agrément in line with standard diplomatic practice.
President Tinubu further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners before their deployment to various missions.
