President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has broadened his diplomatic footprint with the submission of 65 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, pushing the total number of fresh picks to 68. The updated list, unveiled through two letters read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, reflects a strategic mix of career diplomats and high-profile political figures.
The latest batch comprises 34 career ambassadors and 31 non-career nominees, supplementing the three names forwarded earlier—Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo).
The career list features seasoned officers, including Ambassador Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), and Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa), alongside a diverse array of technocrats and administrators drawn from all geopolitical zones.
On the non-career slate, prominent entrants include former Sole Administrator of Rivers State and ex-Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.); former presidential aide and ex-senator, Solomon Ita Enang; and former Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (retd.). Also listed are former Lagos Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro, former governors, political operatives, academics, and private-sector leaders.
Tinubu, in his correspondence, anchored the nominations on Section 171 (1, 2, and 4) of the 1999 Constitution, urging the Senate to accelerate the confirmation process in the national interest.
Akpabio referred the nominations to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with a directive to conduct screenings and present its report within one week—a move signalling the administration’s intent to refresh Nigeria’s diplomatic posture amid shifting global alignments.
Below is the full roster of nominees as transmitted to the Senate:
CAREER AMBASSADOR NOMINEES (34)
Ezenwa Chukwuemeka (Abia);
Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa);
Monica Ogochukwu (Anambra);
Mohammed Mahmoud Lele (Bauchi);
Endoni Sindo (Bayelsa);
Ahmed Mohammed Minguno (Borno);
Jane Adams Okon Michael (Cross River);
Clark Omeruo Alexandra (Delta);
Chimma Geoffrey Davies (Ebonyi);
Oduma Yvonne Ehinose (Edo);
Wasa Segun Ige (Edo);
Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel (Ekiti);
Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley (Enugu);
Magaji Umar (Jigawa);
Mohammed Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna);
AbdulSalam Abus Zayat (Kano);
Shehu Barde (Katsina);
Aminu Nasiu (Katsina);
Abubakar Musa Musa (Kebbi);
Mohammed Idris (Kebbi);
Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi);
Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara);
Ramata Mohammed (Lagos);
Shaga John Shama (Nasarawa);
Salau Hamza Mohammed (Niger);
Ibrahim Danlami (Niger);
Adeola Ibrahim Mopelola (Ogun);
Ruben Abimbola Samuel (Ondo);
Akande Wahab Adekola (Osun);
Adedokun Esther (Oyo);
Gedagi Joseph John (Plateau);
Luther Obomode Ayokalata (Rivers);
Danladi Yakubu Yaku (Taraba);
Bello Dogondaji (Zamfara);
Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa).
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NON-CAREER AMBASSADOR NOMINEES (31)
Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa);
Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom);
Nkechi Linda Okocha (Anambra);
Mahmud Yakubu (Bauchi);
Philip K. Ikurusi (Bayelsa);
Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue);
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) (Cross River);
Abasi Braimah (Edo);
Erelu Angela Adebayo (Ekiti);
Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa (Ekiti);
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu);
Chioma Ohakim (Imo);
Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Kano);
Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina);
Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Aliyu (Kogi);
Olufemi Pedro (Lagos);
Mohammed Ubandoma Aliyu (Nasarawa);
Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo);
Joseph Sola Iji (Ondo);
Fani-Kayode (Osun);
Professor O. Adewole (Osun);
Florence Ajimobi (Oyo);
Lola Akande (Oyo);
Professor Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau);
Yakubu N. Gambo (Plateau);
Chukwujinka Okocha (Rivers);
Haruna Abubakar (Sokoto);
Jerry Samuel Manwe (Taraba);
Adamu Garba Talba Nangree (Yobe);
Reno Omokri (Delta);
Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
