By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a second batch of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of 32 individuals for diplomatic postings across the world.
This comes just days after the president submitted an initial list of three nominees.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu requested the expeditious confirmation of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors.
The new list features 10 women four among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.
Prominent names on the non-career list include former presidential aide Reno Omokri; ex-INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; and former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Others are former Katsina Speaker, Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Plateau commissioner, Yakubu N. Gambo; and former UBEC deputy executive secretary, Mohammed Yakubu.
Also nominated are former Lagos deputy governor, Otunba Femi Pedro; ex-aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; former Oyo First Lady, Florence Ajimobi; ex-Lagos commissioner, Lola Akande; former Adamawa senator, Grace Bent; former Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Ondo senator and businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim; and former envoy to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu.
The 15 career diplomats on the list include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu, Yakubu Nyaku Danladi, Miamuna Ibrahim Besto, Musa Musa Abubakar, Syndoph Paebi Endoni, Chima Geoffrey Lioma David, and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim.
Others are Abimbola Samuel Reuben, Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah, Hamza Mohammed Salau, Ambassador Shehu Barde, Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno, Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru, Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari, and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande.
According to the presidency, the nominees will be deployed to countries with which Nigeria maintains strategic partnerships, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as to multilateral missions such as the UN, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific postings will be determined after Senate confirmation.
Last week, President Tinubu submitted three earlier nominees, Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Col. Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun) who are expected to be posted to the UK, USA, or France.
The president added that more ambassadorial nominations will be announced soon.
