…Forwards 35 Nominees to Senate in Major Diplomatic Shake-Up
Nigeria’s diplomatic landscape is set for one of its most significant overhauls in recent years as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a fresh list of 35 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The move comes nearly two years after his administration recalled all serving Nigerian ambassadors in September 2023, creating widespread vacancies across the nation’s foreign missions.
The list, which arrived at the National Assembly on Thursday, represents a blend of career diplomats and high-profile political actors, signaling the administration’s intention to reshape the country’s engagement with the global community. According to officials, this batch includes 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors, adding to the three names President Tinubu forwarded earlier in the week, thereby rounding up the total number of ambassadorial nominations to 35.
Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the selection reflects President Tinubu’s deliberate effort to achieve both gender balance and regional equity. He disclosed that four women are among the career nominees, while six women appear on the non-career list, marking an increased—though still gradual—recognition of women within Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership structure.
Among the non-career nominees are some of the country’s most recognizable political and public figures. The list includes Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide from Delta State known for his global advocacy and social commentary; Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and outspoken political figure; and Erelu Angela Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti State.
Also nominated are two former governors: Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, marking a return of influential regional actors to public service, this time on the international front. Other notable nominees include Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia); Kayode Are (Ogun), a former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS); Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa); Amb. Ayodele Oke (Oyo), a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a businessman and serving lawmaker whose appointment has already stirred conversations about dual responsibilities.
The career diplomats on the list are drawn from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and represent a wide span of states and geopolitical zones. Their inclusion, analysts say, is intended to provide the professional backbone needed for Nigeria’s foreign missions, especially in countries where technical expertise and longstanding diplomatic relationships are vital.
President Tinubu, in his communication to the Senate, stressed that the appointments form a critical part of his administration’s broader foreign policy strategy—one that centers on economic diplomacy, strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness, and ensuring that the country’s voice is clearly articulated in strategic global capitals.
With the nominations now before the Senate, the next stage will involve rigorous screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, after which the upper chamber will vote on whether to confirm the nominees. Traditionally, ambassadorial screenings examine a nominee’s understanding of foreign policy, crisis management, national interest, and global geopolitics, though political considerations often play a silent but decisive role.
Early reactions from diplomatic observers suggest that President Tinubu’s decision to combine seasoned career diplomats with well-known political figures signals a desire to project both experience and influence onto the global stage. Supporters argue that this hybrid approach could strengthen Nigeria’s representation abroad, while critics question whether overtly political selections could overshadow technocratic expertise.
Should the Senate give its approval, Nigeria’s foreign missions—many of which have operated in caretaker or minimal-capacity modes since late 2023—will once again have full leadership. The ambassadors will be charged with driving Nigeria’s international agenda, expanding economic opportunities, protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad, and reinforcing the Tinubu administration’s renewed foreign policy direction.
As the Senate prepares for the confirmation process, the nominations have already sparked debate in political and diplomatic circles, marking what many describe as a defining moment in the evolving shape of Nigeria’s global engagement under President Tinubu.