Omokri, Fani-Kayode Nominated Ambassadors as Tinubu Sends New Names to Senate

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, days after forwarding an initial batch of three names to the upper chamber.

In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested swift consideration and confirmation of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors. The new list reflects a gender-inclusive slate, with four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.

Among the high-profile non-career nominees are former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta) and former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun). The list also includes Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and immediate past Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Other non-career nominees are Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly; Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau State Commissioner and ex-UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary; former Plateau Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut; former Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro; Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra); former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi; former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent; former Abia Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; Ondo businessman and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue).

The 15 career ambassador-designates 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), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).

Others on the career list are 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), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).

According to the Presidency, once confirmed, the envoys will be deployed to nations with which Nigeria maintains strong strategic relationships—countries such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will serve in key Permanent Missions including the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific postings will be communicated after Senate approval.

This development follows the earlier submission of three ambassadorial nominees last week: Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). They are expected to be posted to the UK, USA or France after their confirmation.

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that additional names will be transmitted to the Senate in due course.