By Amofokhai Williams
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding the diplomatic appointments he began earlier in the month.
The latest batch, conveyed in two separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, includes 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga on Saturday.
The President’s selections feature 10 women, four in the career category and six among the non-career nominees—reflecting a broadened gender representation.
Prominent figures on the non-career list include former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta), former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed are former Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro, former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi, and former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Others nominated include Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Plateau Commissioner Yakubu Gambo, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu.
Career nominees span several states, with names such as Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Maimuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), and Ambassadors Shehu Barde (Katsina) and Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno) among those slated for confirmation.
If approved, the diplomats will be deployed to key postings, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
The President had earlier forwarded three nominees—Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are—who are expected to be posted to the United Kingdom, United States, or France after confirmation.
Onanuga said additional names will be transmitted to the Senate in due course.
