The Nigerian Senate ratified all 68 of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominations on Thursday.
Remember that President Tinubu ultimately forwarded the names of sixty-eight (68) candidates to the National Assembly for approval as Nigeria’s ambassadors. In order to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic positions overseas, this was a significant step.
The much anticipated submission effectively ends the more than two years that Tinubu’s administration operated Nigeria’s missions, embassies, and consulates overseas without appointed envoys.
It was recalled that the Federal Government was under intense pressure from stakeholders and foreign observers to nominate ambassadors as quickly as possible, especially during a time when some US senators, congressmen, and foreign lobbyists accused Nigeria of persecuting Christians and committing genocide.
The new ambassadors are expected to play a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, and protecting the nation’s standing and strategic interests within the international system.
Of the 68 nominations, 34 are career diplomats while the remaining 34 are non-career appointees. States from each of the six geopolitical zones made up the nominees.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs screened and accepted Ayodele Oke, Kayode Are, and Aminu Dalhatu, who were among the initial round of nominations that President Tinubu brought to the Senate earlier on Wednesday. Their screening was preceded by a heated meeting at the National Assembly.
The whole list is displayed below.
34 CAREER AMBASSADORS: 1. Abia’s Ambassador Mwaobiola Ezeuwo Chukwuemeka
2. Maimuna Adamawa Ibrahim
3. Monica Enpeji Okochukwu, Anambra
4. Bauchi’s Mohammed Mahmoud Lele, ambassador
5. Bayelsa Sindup Endoni
6. Borno’s Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno
7. Cross River: Ambassador Jen Adams Ni Okun Michael
8. Delta: Alexandra Clark Omeru, Ambassador
9. Leoma Davies Chima J. Ebonyi.
10. Edo: Yvonne Ehinose Oduma
11. Ige Wasa Shogun of Edo
12. Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel, Ambassador from Ekiti
13. Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley, Ambassador, Enugu
14. Jigawa’s Ambassador Magaji Umar
15. Mohammed Saidu Dahiru, Ambassador, Kaduna
16. Kano Ambassador Abdul Salam Abus Zayat
17. Ambassador Katsina Shehu
18. Katsina’s ambassador, Aminu Nasu
19. Musa Musa Abubakar, Kebbi
20. Kebbi’s ambassador, Haidara Mohammed Idris
21. Kogi Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar
22. Kwara Ambassador Sulu Gambari
23. Lagos Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle
24. Shaga John Shama, Ambassador, Nasarawa 25. Mohammed Salau Hamza, Niger
26. Niger’s ambassador, Ibrahim Dan Lamy
27. Ibrahim Adjola Mopolola Ogun
28. Samuel Ondo, Ruben Abimbola
29. Osun Ambassador Akonde Wahab Adekola
30. Oyo Ambassador Ariwani Adedokun Esther
31. Plateau: Joseph John Gedagi, Ambassador
32. Rivers Ambassador Luther Obomode Ayokatata
33. Taraba’s Yakubu Yaku Danladi
34. NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS (31): Bidu Dogondagi, Zamfara
35. Abia: Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu
36. Barrister, Abia, Ogbonnaya Kalu
37. Adamawa: Senator Grace Bent
38. Akwa Ibom Anambra Senator Eta Enang: Linda Okocha Nkechi
40. Yakubu Mahmoud Bauchi 41. Paul Olga Adiku of Benue 42. Philip K. Ikurusi, Bayelsa 44. Reno Omokri, Delta 45. Edo: Honorable Abbasi Brahma 43. Cross River: Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd.)
46. Olumilua Oluwayemika, a lawyer 47. Angela Adebayo Erelu
48. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, Enugu
49. In my view, Barr. Mrs. Chioma Ohakim
51. Katsina: Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari 50. Kano: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd.)
52. Sanusi Aliu Kogi Alhaji Abubakar
54. Barr. Mohammed Obanduma Aliu, Nasarawa 53. Olufemi Pedro, Lagos
55. Ondo Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD 56. Joseph Yusuf Shara’aji, Ambassador, Ondo
57. Osun: Fani and Kayode
58. Fatima Florence Ajimobi Oyo Oyo: Lola Akande (59) 60. The Plateau of Yakubu N. Gambo
61. Plateau Rivers Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut: Onweze Chukwudi 62
63. Dr. Abubakar Kulu Haruna of Sokoto
64. In Taraba, Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe
65. Yobe: Adamu Garba Tarba-Nagri
The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee has accepted the first batch (3):
66. Oke Ayodele, Oyo State
67. Jigawa: Amin Mohammed Dalhatu
68. Ogun: Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are
