Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in parts of Europe and Latin America is set for a refresh as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of new ambassadors, including former governors and political figures, to key foreign missions.
Among the notable assignments, former Abia State governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has been posted as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, while former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will head the country’s mission in Greece. Political commentator Reno Omokri is to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico.
The postings form part of a broader diplomatic deployment involving 31 career ambassadors and 34 non-career ambassadors to various countries and international missions, including the United Nations.
The ambassadors-designate were confirmed by the Senate in December last year, clearing the way for their formal assignments.
A statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun the process of securing the necessary diplomatic approvals from host countries.
According to the statement, the United Kingdom has already granted agrément for Nigeria’s High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has also approved the posting of Ambassador Ayo Oke.
The ministry has similarly forwarded the nominations of the remaining envoys to their respective host nations and requested agréments in line with established diplomatic practice.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners ahead of their deployment.
List of the Ambassadorial Appointments And Their Postings
1. Senator Grace Bent: Lome-Togo
2. Sen. Ita Enang: South Africa
3. Ikpeazu Victor: Spain
4. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu: Tel-Aviv, Israel
5. Mahmud Yakubu: Qatar
6. Paul Oga Adikwu: The Vatican City Holy See
7. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas: The Philippines
8. Mr. Reno Omokri: Mexico City, Mexico
9. Hon. (Engr.) Abasi Braimah (Fmhr): Budapest, Hungary
10. Mrs. Erelu Angela Adebayo: Portugal
11. Barr. Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa: Tokyo, Japan
12. Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi Ifeanyi Lawrence: Athens, Greece
13. Barr. Chioma Priscilla Ohakim: Warsaw, Poland
14. Aminu Dalhatu: United Kingdom, Uk
15. Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau: Beijing, China
16. Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari: Gambia
17. Olufemi Pedro: Australia
18. Barr. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu: Argentina
19. Lateef Kayode Are: Usa
20. Amb. Joseph Sola Iji: Russia
21. Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim: Un Permanent Representative
22. Femi Fani Kayode: Germany
23. Prof. Isaak Folorunso Adewole: Ottawa, Canada
24. Ajimobi Fatima Florence (F): Austria
25. Mrs. Lola Akande (F): Sweden
26. Ayodele Oke: France
27. Yakubu N. Gambo: Saudi Arabia
28. Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut: Seoul, South Korea
29. Barr. Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha San: Dublin
30. Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar: Tunis, Tunisia
31. Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe: Port Of Spain, T&T
Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners List
1. Amb. Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka: Cote D’iv/Oire
2. Besto Maimuna Ibrahim: Niamey-Niger
3. Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi: Sao Tome, Stp
4. Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele: Algiers-Algeria
5. Endoni Syndoph Paebi: Ouagadougou-Burkina Faso
6. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno: Cairo Egypt
7. Amb.Jane Adams (Nee Okon) Michael (F): Kingston-Jamaica
8. Amb. Clark-Omeru Alexandra (F): Lusaka-Zambia
9. Chima Geoggrey Lioma David: Bamako-Mali
10. Amb. Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen: Malabo –E/Guinea
11. Amb Wasa Segun Ige: Beirut, Lebanon
12. Ruben Abimbola Samuel (F): Rome, Italy
13. Amb.Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley: Maputo, Mozambique
14. Amb.Magaji Umar: Kinsasha, Dr Congo
15. Amb.Muhammad Saidu Dahiru: New Delhi-India
16. Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad: Dakar-Senegal
17. Amb Shehu Ilu Barde: Accra Ghana
18. Amb.Aminu Nasir: Ethiopia
19. Abubakar Musa Musa: N’djamena, Chad
20. Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris: The Hague-Netherlands
21. Amb.Bako Adamu Umar: Rabat-Morocco
22. Amb. Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed: Malaysia
23. Amb.Romata Mohammed Omobolanle (F): Tanzania
24. Amb. Shaga John Shamah: Botswana
25. Salau, Hamza Mohammed: Tehran, Iran
26. Amb.Ibrahim Danlami: Kenya
27. Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola (F): Cotonou-Benin
28. Amb.Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel: Brussels, Belgium
29. Amb.Akande Wahab Adekola: Berne-Switzerland
30. Amb. Arewa (Nee Adedokun) Esther (F): Windhoek-Namibia
31. Amb.Gergadi Joseph John: Libreville-Gabon
32. Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (F): Sierra Leone
33. Danladi Yakubu Nyaku : Khartoum-Sudan
34. Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru: Bangkok, Thailand