The Senate has confirmed 64 ambassadorial designates forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including prominent political figures, former service chiefs, career diplomats and well‑known personalities.
The confirmation list comprises 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 30 non‑career ambassadorial nominees, marking one of the broadest diplomatic approvals in recent years aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s foreign service strength.
Among the non‑career ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate on Thursday are:
• Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South)
• Professor Yakubu Mahmoud, Immediate Past Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
• Senator Ita Enang
• Reno Omokri
• Senator Grace Bent
• Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut
• Ibok‑Ete Ekwe Ibas, Former Chief of Naval Staff and ex‑Sole Administrator of Rivers State
• Chioma Ohakim, Former Imo State First Lady
• Abdulrahman Dambazau, Former Minister of Interior and Former Army Chief
• Femi Fani‑Kayode, Former Minister of Health
• Erelu Angela Adebayo (Ekiti)
• Florence Ajimobi (Oyo State)
• Mrs. Chioma Ohakim (additional name highlighted)
These high‑profile confirmations demonstrate the Senate’s willingness to support broad diplomatic representation and leverage diverse expertise for Nigeria’s foreign relations and diplomatic missions.
Notable among the 34 career ambassadorial nominees confirmed are:
• Sulu‑Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara State)
• Segun Ige (Edo State)
• Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen (Edo State)
The career nominees largely include seasoned foreign service professionals and senior diplomats who have spent years in Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, providing continuity and institutional experience to the country’s international engagements.
The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of the Foreign Affairs Committee report by its Chairman, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North). In his remarks, Senator Bello said all nominees were found worthy of their appointments, noting that there were no petitions or negative submissions against any candidate.
During the screening exercise, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim a serving senator and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs was notably the first nominee invited and received a red‑carpet welcome from colleagues.
After the confirmations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the newly confirmed ambassadors and high commissioners, urging them to represent Nigeria with dignity, professionalism and a deep commitment to national interest.
He specifically encouraged Senator Ibrahim to maintain close ties with the Senate so that lawmakers can continue to benefit from his experience and institutional knowledge, especially in matters relating to Nigeria’s foreign policy and international diplomacy.
The Senate leadership described the diplomatic confirmations as timely and critical to advancing Nigeria’s bilateral and multilateral engagements in an increasingly complex global environment.
The confirmation of 64 ambassadorial designates marks a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s international diplomatic footprint. With seasoned career diplomats and distinguished non‑career appointees now cleared for deployment, Nigeria is positioned to:
• deepen bilateral relations with key global partners,
• enhance trade and investment diplomacy,
• protect and advance Nigerian interests abroad,
• and improve the efficiency of consular services for Nigerians in diaspora.
Foreign policy experts say the blend of experienced diplomats and non‑career envoys including former administrators, political leaders and seasoned public servants is expected to add strategic depth to Nigeria’s foreign missions.
The Senate’s confirmation of Jimoh Ibrahim, Ibas, Yakubu, Reno Omokri, Femi Fani‑Kayode and 60 others signals a decisive move to fully staff Nigeria’s diplomatic missions with a mix of experienced career personnel and influential non‑career envoys. As administrations worldwide recalibrate diplomatic priorities, Nigeria’s expanded ambassadorial corps will be key to advancing national interests and strengthening regional and global partnerships.
