President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding the ongoing diplomatic reshuffle that began earlier in the week with an initial batch of three names.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the lawmakers to “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors.
According to the nomination list, four women were selected among the career nominees, while six women made the non-career category.
Prominent figures on the non-career list include former presidential aide Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), social commentator and former presidential adviser Reno Omokri (Delta), former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmud Yakubu, ex–Ekiti State First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Others named are former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Plateau Commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo; former UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary; former Plateau senator Professor Nora Ladi Daduut; former Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra).
Also included are former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi; former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent; former Abia Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; Ondo Senator and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim; and Nigeria’s former ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue).
The 15 career ambassadorial nominees are 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), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), 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).
A State House statement noted that the new envoys are expected to be deployed to countries with which Nigeria maintains strong bilateral ties, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Specific postings will follow Senate confirmation.
This latest list comes a week after the President nominated three envoys—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 Kingdom, the United States, or France.
President Tinubu indicated that additional ambassadorial nominations will be announced in due course.
The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, on November 29, 2025.
