Our Reporter, Abuja
Former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Greece, while former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Priscilla Ohakim, has been posted to Poland following the approval of ambassadorial postings by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The postings form part of a list of 65 ambassadors-designate—31 non-career political appointees and 34 career diplomats—approved by the President after their confirmation by the Senate in December last year.
In a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Federal Government said the appointments were part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements across the world.
Among the non-career ambassadors, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, was posted to Germany, while political commentator, Reno Omokri, was assigned to Mexico.
Others include former Cross River senator Ita Enang to South Africa; former Lagos deputy governor Olufemi Pedro to Australia; and former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the Philippines.
Also on the list are Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, Lateef Kayode Are to the United States, and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Other non-career ambassadors are Senator Grace Bent (Togo), Victor Ikpeazu (Spain), Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Israel), Paul Oga Adikwu (The Vatican), Abasi Braimah (Hungary), Angela Adebayo (Portugal), Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa (Japan), Aminu Dalhatu (United Kingdom), Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (China), Tasiu Musa Maigari (Gambia), Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu (Argentina), Joseph Sola Iji (Russia), Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Austria), Lola Akande (Sweden), Ayodele Oke (France), Yakubu N. Gambo (Saudi Arabia), Nora Ladi Daduut (South Korea), Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha (Ireland), Kulu Haruna Abubakar (Tunisia), and Jerry Samuel Manwe (Trinidad and Tobago).
The President also approved the posting of 34 career diplomats to various missions across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
They include Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka (Côte d’Ivoire), Besto Maimuna Ibrahim (Niger), Monica Okwuchukwu Enebchi (São Tomé and Príncipe), Mohammed Mahmud Lele (Algeria), Endoni Syndoph Paebi (Burkina Faso), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Egypt), Jane Adams Michael (Jamaica), Alexandra Clark-Omeru (Zambia), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Mali), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Equatorial Guinea), Segun Ige (Lebanon), Ruben Abimbola Samuel (Italy), Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga (Mozambique), Magaji Umar (Democratic Republic of Congo), Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (India), Abdussalam Habu Zayyad (Senegal), Shehu Ilu Barde (Ghana), Aminu Nasir (Ethiopia), Abubakar Musa Musa (Chad), Haidara Mohammed Idris (Netherlands), Bako Adamu Umar (Morocco), Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Malaysia), Romata Mohammed Omobolanle (Tanzania), Shaga John Shamah (Botswana), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Iran), Ibrahim Danlami (Kenya), Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola (Benin), Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel (Belgium), Wahab Adekola Akande (Switzerland), Esther Arewa (Namibia), Joseph John Gergadi (Gabon), Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (Sierra Leone), Danladi Yakubu Nyaku (Sudan), and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Thailand).
According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Aminu Dalhatu, while France has also granted agrément for Ayodele Oke.
The ministry has transmitted the nominations of the remaining ambassadors-designate to their respective host countries and requested agrément in line with standard 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.
