…34 career, 31 non-career ambassadors
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 68 ambassadors-designate, comprising 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career nominees, alongside three earlier nominees already cleared by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The full list, released on Thursday, reflects a spread across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with several former governors, senators, retired military officers and seasoned civil servants included among those selected to represent Nigeria abroad.
The career diplomats on the list include Ambassador Mwaobiola Ezeuwo Chukwuemeka from Abia State; Maimuna Ibrahim from Adamawa; Enpeji Monica Okochukwu from Anambra; and Ambassador Mohammed Mahmoud Lele from Bauchi.
Others are Endoni Sindup from Bayelsa; Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno from Borno; and Ambassador Jen Adams Ni Okun Michael from Cross River. Delta is represented by Ambassador Clark Omeru Alexandra, while Ebonyi’s nominee is Chima J. Leoma Davies. Edo State has two career ambassadors: Oduma Yvonne Ehinose and Wasa Shogun Ige.
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The list also features Ambassador Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel from Ekiti; Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley from Enugu; Ambassador Magaji Umar from Jigawa; Ambassador Mohammed Saidu Dahiru from Kaduna; and Ambassador Abdul Salam Abus Zayat from Kano.
Katsina has two career representatives; Ambassador Shehu and Ambassador Aminu Nasu while Kebbi also has two: Abubakar Musa Musa and Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris.
Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar represents Kogi, while Kwara’s nominee is Ambassador Sulu Gambari.
Lagos is represented by Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle, Nasarawa by Ambassador Shaga John Shama, and Niger by Salau Hamza Mohammed and Ambassador Ibrahim Dan Lamy.
Adjola Ibrahim Mopolola from Ogun, Ruben Abimbola Samuel from Ondo, and Ambassador Akonde Wahab Adekola from Osun also made the list.
Ambassador Ariwani Adedokun Esther is nominated from Oyo, Ambassador Gedagi Joseph John from Plateau, Ambassador Luther Obomode Ayokatata from Rivers, Danladi Yakubu Yaku from Taraba, and Bidu Dogondagi from Zamfara.
In the category of non-career ambassadors, the President nominated former Abia governor, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu and Ogbonnaya Kalu, also from Abia.
Adamawa is represented by Senator Grace Bent; Akwa Ibom by Senator Eta Enang; and Anambra by Nkechi Linda Okocha. Bauchi’s nominee is Mahmoud Yakubu, while Bayelsa’s is Philip K. Ikurusi.
Benue will have Paul Olga Adiku, and Cross River is represented by Ibok-Ette Ibas, retired Navy chief.
Delta State’s nominee is author and political commentator Reno Omokri; Edo’s is Abbasi Brahma; and Ekiti has two nominees, Erelu Angela Adebayo and Olumilua Oluwayemika.
Enugu is represented by former governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, while Imo’s nominee is Chioma Ohakim.
Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, Retired Army Chief is nominated from Kano; Katsina is represented by Tasiu Musa Maigari; and Kogi by Abubakar Sanusi Aliu.
Former Lagos deputy governor Olufemi Pedro is the nominee from Lagos, while Nasarawa is represented by Mohammed Obanduma Aliu.
Ondo has two nominees, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD, and Ambassador Joseph Yusuf Shara’aji. Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode was nominated from Osun, while Oyo has two representatives: Ajimobi Fatima Florence and Lola Akande.
Plateau’s nominees are Yakubu N. Gambo and Senator Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, while Rivers is represented by Onweze Chukwudi.
Kulu Haruna Abubakar is nominated from Sokoto, Jerry Samuel Manwe from Taraba, and Adamu Garba Tarba-Nagri from Yobe.
The three nominees already cleared in the first batch by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ayodele Oke from Oyo, Amin Mohammed Dalhatu from Jigawa, and Lateef Kayode Are from Ogun, complete the list of 68 ambassadors-designate.
The nominees are expected to proceed to the Senate for screening and confirmation before being deployed to Nigeria’s foreign missions.
