President Tinubu has compensated Fani-Kayode, Reno, Ikpeazu, and Ugwuanyi among 28 others with Ambassadorial Positions.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri, and two former governors; Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) for ambassadorial appointments, marking a major shake-up in Nigeria’s diplomatic corps.
The President also included the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, among the 32 nominees transmitted to the Senate for confirmation. The list comprises 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career ambassadors.
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The fresh list follows the earlier submission of three nominees to the Senate last week.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu urged lawmakers to give swift confirmation to both sets of nominees.
Notably, four women appear on the career ambassadors’ list, while six women were nominated as non-career envoys.
Non-Career Ambassadorial Nominees
Prominent individuals on the non-career list include:
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Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
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Reno Omokri (Delta), former presidential aide
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Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC Chairman
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Erelu Angela Adebayo, former Ekiti First Lady
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Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor of Enugu
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Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister (Osun)
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Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
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Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Oyo First Lady
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Lola Akande, former Lagos Commissioner
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Grace Bent, former Adamawa Senator
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Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Abia Governor
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Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman and serving Senator (Ondo)
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Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu, former envoy to the Holy See
Other nominees include former Katsina Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari; Yakubu N. Gambo, ex-UBEC official; and Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, former Plateau senator.
Career Ambassadorial Nominees
Among the diplomatic service professionals nominated are:
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Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)
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Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba)
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Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa)
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Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi)
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Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)
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Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)
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Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun)
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Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo)
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Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo)
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Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger)
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Amb. Shehu Barde (Katsina)
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Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno)
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Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna)
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Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara)
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Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga noted that the nominees will be posted to countries with strategic ties to Nigeria, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as to key multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific postings will be announced after Senate confirmation.
Recall that last week, Tinubu also submitted three additional nominees; Amb. Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Amb. Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and retired Col. Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun) who are being considered for postings to the UK, USA, or France.
President Tinubu said more ambassadorial nominees will be unveiled soon.
