PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, expanding Nigeria’s proposed diplomatic roster just days after submitting an initial batch of three names.
News Point Nigeria reports that the President’s latest request was conveyed in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In the correspondence, Tinubu urged the Senate to “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees who will represent Nigeria in key embassies and missions across the world.
The combined list features 10 women, with four among the career diplomats and six on the non-career ambassadorial list—reinforcing what the presidency described as an ongoing commitment to gender inclusion in foreign service appointments.
High-Profile Names Included
Among the non-career nominees are several high-profile political figures, former government officials, and influential public personalities. They include:
Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
Reno Omokri (Delta), author and former presidential aide
Professor Mahmud Yakubu, former INEC chairman
Erelu Angela Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti State
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former governor of Enugu
Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Katsina Assembly Speaker
Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau Commissioner and ex-UBEC deputy executive secretary
Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, former Plateau senator
Otunba Femi Pedro, former Lagos State Deputy Governor
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister
Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Florence Ajimobi, former First Lady of Oyo
Lola Akande, former Lagos Commissioner
Grace Bent, former Adamawa Senator
Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman and senator from Ondo
Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu, former envoy to the Vatican
Career Diplomats Also Nominated
The career ambassadors and high commissioner-designates include seasoned foreign service officers and senior public servants:
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), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
Strategic Foreign Postings Expected
According to the presidency, the nominees—once confirmed—will be deployed to countries with which Nigeria maintains significant bilateral and strategic relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will be posted to multilateral missions including the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Their specific postings will be announced after Senate confirmation.
Last week, President Tinubu had sent a preliminary list of three nominees:
Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo)
Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa)
Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)
They are expected to be assigned to major diplomatic missions in the UK, USA, or France.
The President, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said additional ambassadorial nominees will be announced in the coming days as Nigeria accelerates efforts to strengthen its diplomatic engagements worldwide.
The letters were dated November 29, 2025.