President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted the names of 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation, following his earlier submission of three nominees. In two separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President requested swift consideration of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadorial nominees.
The lists include four women among the career ambassadors and six women among the non-career nominees, reflecting a growing commitment to gender inclusion in Nigeria’s diplomatic service.
Notable non-career ambassadorial nominees include Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, former presidential aide; Reno Omokri from Delta; former INEC chairman Mahmud Yakubu; Erelu Angela Adebayo, former Ekiti First Lady; and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former governor of Enugu. Others include Tasiu Musa Maigari, former speaker of Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau Commissioner and UBEC deputy executive secretary, and Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, former Plateau senator.
The list also features prominent figures such as Otunba Femi Pedro, former Lagos deputy governor; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister from Osun; Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra; former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi; and former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande. Additionally, former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent, ex-Abia Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Ondo Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and former Ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu, are included.
Career ambassador nominees include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara), and Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
Once confirmed, these nominees are expected to serve in countries and international organizations where Nigeria maintains strategic and strong bilateral relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific diplomatic postings will be assigned after Senate confirmation.
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Last week, President Tinubu had forwarded three ambassadorial nominees Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun) who are set for postings in the UK, USA, or France. The President has indicated that more ambassadorial nominations will follow in the coming weeks.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President,
Information and Strategy
November 29, 2025