BREAKING: Tinubu Appoints Mahmood Yakubu, Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri, Others As Ambassadors

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again expanded Nigeria’s incoming diplomatic team, forwarding 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening.

This fresh batch arrives only days after the President submitted an earlier list of three names.

The new list was conveyed in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In the letters, President Tinubu urged the Senate to “consider and confirm expeditiously” a set of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees, signalling another major step in reshaping Nigeria’s foreign service.

The compilation features a blend of former public officials, seasoned politicians, academics, and administrators.

It also increases the number of women heading for diplomatic duty, with four female career nominees and six female non-career nominees included.

Among the non-career nominees are several familiar political figures. They include Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta), former INEC Chairman Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Also listed are former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Plateau Commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo, and former Deputy Executive Secretary of UBEC, among others.

The list further includes Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, ex-Senator from Plateau; former Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun); and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu of Anambra.

The President also nominated former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi, ex-Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent, former Abia Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Ondo Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and former Vatican ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu.

On the career side, 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), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).

Others 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).

If confirmed, the nominees will be deployed to countries and multilateral missions considered strategic to Nigeria’s foreign policy. Expected postings include China, India, South Korea, Canada, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Mexico, Kenya, the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific stations will be announced after Senate approval.

This batch follows last week’s submission of three nominees—Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)—who are projected for high-profile postings such as the United Kingdom, United States, or France.

The Presidency has indicated that more ambassadorial names will still be released.