Tinubu Sends 32 Ambassadorial Nominees to Senate, Includes Yakubu, Omokri, Ugwuanyi and Others
President Forwards Second Batch of Envoys to Senate for Confirmation
Nigeria’s diplomatic landscape is set for another major shake-up as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation. This move, Akahi News learnt, comes just days after the President forwarded an initial batch of three nominees, signalling an accelerated push to fill key diplomatic postings around the world.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the nominees were contained in two separate letters addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Akahi News gathered that President Tinubu urged the Senate to consider and confirm 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors without delay.
Notable Figures on the Nomination List
Among the prominent names on the non-career list are:
- Mahmud Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
- Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
- Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor of Enugu State
- Erelu Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti
- Femi Pedro, former Lagos Deputy Governor
- Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation
- Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State
Akahi News reports that the list also features experienced politicians, technocrats and diplomats, including Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari, Yakubu N. Gambo, Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, and former Oyo First Lady, Fatima Florence Ajimobi.
Onanuga highlighted that the new list contains four women among the career ambassadors and six women among the non-career nominees, reflecting what observers say is a modest attempt to improve gender representation.
Full Breakdown of Career Ambassador Nominees
The list of career ambassadors and high commissioner-designates, according to details obtained by Akahi News, includes:
- 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)
- Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna)
- Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara)
- Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)
Diplomatic Placements and Expectations
According to information made available to Akahi News, the nominated ambassadors are expected to be deployed to countries where Nigeria maintains key diplomatic, economic and strategic ties. These include China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will head to Nigeria’s Permanent Missions at the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union.
Observers note that the appointments come at a critical period when Nigeria is seeking to strengthen bilateral relations, attract foreign investment, and project stronger influence in multilateral organisations.
Next Steps
The nominees will officially know their specific diplomatic assignments after they are screened and confirmed by the Senate, as is constitutionally required.
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