By John Umeh

 

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions around the world, covering bilateral embassies as well as multilateral institutions including the United Nations.

The list includes 34 non-career ambassadors and 31 career diplomats, whose nominations had earlier received confirmation from the Nigerian Senate in December.

Fani-Kayode, Omokri Among High-Profile Appointees

Among the most notable assignments is the posting of former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany, while political commentator and former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been appointed to represent Nigeria in Mexico City, Mexico.

Another appointment attracting attention is that of Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, who will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Israel, a posting considered important due to the long-standing diplomatic and security relationship between both countries.

Other Notable Non-Career Appointments

Several prominent political figures were also assigned to key diplomatic roles:

• Grace Bent – Ambassador to Lomé, Togo

• Ita Enang – Ambassador to South Africa

• Victor Ikpeazu – Ambassador to Spain

• Mahmud Yakubu – Ambassador to Qatar

• Paul Oga Adikwu – Ambassador to Vatican City

Other appointments include Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Philippines), Angela Adebayo (Portugal), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Greece), and Abdulrahman Dambazau (China).

Additional Strategic Diplomatic Postings

Further assignments announced include:

• Lateef Kayode Are – Ambassador to the United States

• Joseph Sola Iji – Ambassador to Russia

• Jimoh Ibrahim – Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations

• Isaac Adewole – Ambassador to Canada

Other envoys were posted to countries including Austria, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Ireland, and Tunisia, among many others.

Career Diplomats Also Assigned

Career diplomats were also included in the new postings to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence across Africa and beyond. These include ambassadors assigned to Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Egypt, Italy, India, Malaysia, and Kenya, among others.

Diplomatic Clearance Underway

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria), diplomatic clearance—known as agrément—has already been obtained from the United Kingdom for Ambassador-designate Aminu Dalhatu, while France has granted approval for Ayodele Oke.

Requests for approval for the remaining ambassadors have been forwarded to their respective host countries as required under international diplomatic protocol.

In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the president also directed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to begin an induction and orientation programme for the ambassadors and high commissioners ahead of their formal deployment to Nigeria’s foreign missions.