ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate has confirmed a total of 64 new ambassadors, marking one of the largest diplomatic appointments in recent years and signaling a fresh drive in the nation’s global engagement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The confirmations, ratified during a plenary session this week, comprise 34 career diplomats and 30 non-career ambassadors. The list features a blend of seasoned foreign service officers and prominent political figures, reflecting a strategy of combining institutional expertise with influential external advocacy.
Notable Appointees
Among the confirmed non-career ambassadors are several high-profile personalities:
· Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom) – former presidential aide
· Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Osun) – businessman and former senator
· Bemigho Reno Omokri (Delta) – media commentator and author
· Chief Olufemi Pedro (Lagos) – former Deputy Governor of Lagos State
· Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd) (Kano) – former Minister of Defence
· Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode (Osun) – former Minister of Aviation
The career ambassadors include veterans of the Nigerian Foreign Service such as Ambassador Nwaobiala Ezenwa (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), and Ambassador Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara).
Senate’s Charge and Expectations
The confirmations followed a rigorous screening process by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which affirmed that all nominees met constitutional and professional requirements.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, congratulating the new envoys, charged them to be “ambassadors of excellence” and to actively promote Nigeria’s interests abroad.
“Your role is vital in projecting Nigeria’s image globally and promoting the best of what our country has to offer,” Akpabio stated. He emphasized that diplomatic missions must go beyond protocol to attract investment, strengthen bilateral ties, and protect Nigerians living overseas.
Lawmakers stressed that the appointments come at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to assert a more influential role in regional and international affairs, particularly in discussions on peace, security, climate change, and economic development.
A Strategic Diplomatic Push
The new batch of envoys is expected to reinvigorate Nigeria’s diplomatic presence worldwide and advance the foreign policy priorities of the Tinubu administration. The blend of career and non-career diplomats aims to ensure both continuity and renewed energy in representing the nation’s interests.
The Senate’s approval underscores the administration’s ongoing effort to reposition Nigeria as a confident and proactive player on the global stage, with many Nigerians looking to the new ambassadors to translate their appointments into tangible gains for the country’s image and international standing.
