Bola Tinubu, president of Nigeria, has approved the deployment of several prominent Nigerians as ambassadors to key diplomatic missions, drawing from a mix of political figures, administrators, and experienced public servants to represent the country abroad.
Among those posted are former ministers, governors, and senior public officials whose careers span politics, public administration, and security.
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Angela Adebayo – Portugal
Angela Adebayo, born on September 23 1958, has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Portugal. She received her early education at Queen’s College, Yaba, before earning a BSc in Social Sciences from the University of Ibadan in 1979. She later obtained an MBA from the University of Lagos in 1982 and an MPhil in Land Economy from the University of Cambridge in 1994.
Adebayo began her professional career in 1982 as a banking officer at ICON Merchant Bank. She later built a strong reputation across the financial, real estate, and corporate sectors, where she served on several major boards.
Her corporate leadership roles include director at United Bank for Africa Plc, chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, director at Greenwich Trust Limited and Meyer Paints Plc, as well as council member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, now NGX Group. She also made history as the first female chairman of WEMABOD Estates Limited. She currently serves as a patron of the British Nigerian Chamber of Commerce.
She was also active in public service as the first lady of Ekiti State between 1999 and 2003, during the administration of her husband Niyi Adebayo, a former Ekiti State governor and minister of industry, trade, and investment.
Adebayo holds several traditional titles, including Erelu of Iyin Ekiti, Aare Erelu of Ado Ekiti, and Erelu Owa of Awo Ekiti. She is married with three children.
Her diplomatic posting places her at a key European mission as Nigeria seeks to deepen economic and cultural ties with Portugal.
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Grace Bent – Togo
Grace Bent, born in 1960, has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Togo. She attended Ilesa Grammar School and graduated in 1978, before proceeding to the University of Calabar, where she was actively involved in student union politics.
She earned a BA in English and Literary Studies from the university in 1998 and later obtained a master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations in 2003.
Bent also holds a doctorate in Public Administration from Indiana State University in the United States.
Before entering politics, she worked as an assistant producer at the Nigerian Television Authority in Kaduna and later served as managing director of Jack Ventures Nigeria.
She also served as political adviser to Audu Ogbeh during his tenure as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Bent represented Adamawa South in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, where she participated in legislative work on national development issues. She is also an author and has published a book titled Women in Inter Ethnic Marriages in Nigeria.
Her appointment to Togo places her in a key West African diplomatic post as Nigeria continues to strengthen regional cooperation and economic ties within the ECOWAS bloc
Lola Akande – Sweden
Lola Akande, a former Lagos State commissioner for commerce, industry, and cooperatives, has been posted to Sweden. An academic and policy expert, Akande previously lectured at Lagos State University and has long been involved in economic policy discussions. Her diplomatic role in Stockholm is expected to focus on strengthening trade, innovation partnerships, and investment ties between Nigeria and the Nordic region.
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Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas – The Philippines
Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas, a retired vice admiral and former chief of naval staff, has been assigned to the Philippines. Ibas led the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021 and later served as Nigeria’s high commissioner to Ghana. His background in security and diplomacy could prove useful in strengthening defence cooperation and maritime relations between Nigeria and the Southeast Asian country.
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Greece
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Enugu State governor will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Greece. Ugwuanyi governed Enugu from 2015 to 2023 after representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Known for his political style and grassroots appeal, he brings years of political leadership and legislative experience to the diplomatic post in Athens.
The appointments are part of President Tinubu’s broader effort to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic missions across the world with both career and non-career envoys after months of vacancies in several embassies.
The ambassadors designated are expected to undergo induction by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before assuming their posts once host countries grant the required diplomatic approval.
