President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigeria’s foreign missions and multilateral organisations across the world, including the mission to the United Nations.
The list comprises 34 non-career ambassadors and 31 career diplomats, whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.
Among the notable appointments is the posting of former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, while former presidential aide Reno Omokri will head Nigeria’s mission in Mexico City, Mexico.
Also attracting attention is the appointment of Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu as Nigeria’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Israel, a key diplomatic posting given the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and Israel in areas such as security, technology and agriculture.
Other prominent non-career postings include Grace Bent to Lomé, Togo, Ita Enang to South Africa, Victor Ikpeazu to Spain, Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, and Paul Oga Adikwu to the Holy See in Vatican City.
Similarly, retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas has been posted to the Philippines, while Abasi Braimah goes to Hungary, Angela Adebayo to Portugal, Oluwayimika Ayotunwa Olumilua to Japan, and former governor Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi to Greece.
Others on the list include Chioma Priscilla Ohakim to Poland, Aminu Dalhatu to the United Kingdom, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China, Tasiu Musa Maigari to The Gambia, Olufemi Pedro to Australia, and Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu to Argentina.
Further appointments include Lateef Kayode Are to the United States, Joseph Sola Iji to Russia, and Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Also posted are Isaac 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 South Korea, Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha to Ireland, Kulu Haruna Abubakar to Tunisia, and Jerry Samuel Manwe to Trinidad and Tobago.
For the career diplomatic corps, the postings include Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Besto Maimuna Ibrahim to Niger, Monica Okwuchukwu Enebichi to São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria.
Others include Endoni Syndoph Paebi to Burkina Faso, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, Jane Adams Michael to Jamaica, Alexandra Clark-Omeru to Zambia, Chima Geoffrey Lioma David to Mali, and Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah to Equatorial Guinea.
In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) has already secured agrément from the United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Aminu Dalhatu, while France has also approved the posting of Ayodele Oke.
The ministry added that requests for agrément have been formally transmitted to other host countries in line with diplomatic protocol.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment.
Tinubu deploys 65 ambassadors, posts Fani-Kayode Germany, Omokri Mexico
