President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation, adding to the initial trio submitted earlier this month.
The nominees, drawn from across Nigeria’s political and professional spectrum, include former INEC chairman Mahmud Yakubu, Delta-born media personality Reno Omokri, and ex–Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Tinubu’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the submissions in a release on Saturday, noting that the names were transmitted in letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The statement, titled ‘Tinubu nominates 32 additional ambassadors,’ outlined two categories of nominees: 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career appointees.
“In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors,” the statement said.
Onanuga also highlighted gender representation in the nominations, adding: “There are four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.”
High-profile non-career nominees named include Erelu Adebayo, Tasiu Musa Maigari, Yakubu N. Gambo, Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, Otunba Femi Pedro, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Benue-born diplomat Paul Oga Adikwu. Also enlisted are political figures from Oyo and Lagos such as Fatima Florence Ajimobi and Lola Akande, as well as former Abia governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Ondo senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and Lagos ex-commissioner Lola Akande.
The second tier of nominations covers career diplomats and high commissioner designates from states including Abia, Taraba, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ogun, Edo, Ondo and others. Some of the names cited are Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), and Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), among several others.
The presidency stated that posting destinations would be unveiled only after Senate confirmation.
“The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union”
It added: “All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.”
Last week, Tinubu had sent three names—Ayodele Oke, Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are—for screening. Those earlier nominees were being weighed for possible postings to the UK, the United States, or France once confirmed.
Onanuga hinted that more names would soon follow, disclosing: “More nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon.”
