In an expanded ambassadorial nomination list sent to the Senate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named Senator Jimoh Ibrahim among the 17 non-career nominees slated for diplomatic postings.
President Tinubu transmitted the names of 32 additional nominees to the Senate for confirmation, just days after forwarding the first batch of three nominees. The request was contained in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
A statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, revealed that the new list includes 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees, with 10 women featured across both categories.
Senator Ibrahim, a businessman, lawyer and serving Senator representing Ondo South, joins a list of prominent figures nominated for non-career ambassadorial roles. Other nominees include former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta), former INEC Chairman Professor Mahmud Yakubu, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia).
Also on the list are former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari; ex-UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary Yakubu N. Gambo; former Plateau Senator Nora Ladi Daduut; former Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State.
Others include former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent, former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu, former envoy to the Holy See.
The 15 career ambassador-designates include 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), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun). Others are 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).
The nominees, once confirmed, will be deployed to countries where Nigeria maintains key diplomatic and economic relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya, as well as multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union.
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Last week, the President submitted an initial set of three nominees—Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)—who are being considered for postings to the United States, United Kingdom or France.
President Tinubu noted that more ambassadorial nominations will be announced soon.
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