Yibaikwal Assumes Duty As Ambassador To Russia

The newly appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Prof. Abdullahi Yibaikwal, has arrived Moscow and is set to assume duty.

Amb. Yibaikwal in a short message, said that he was warmly received on arrival by officials of the Nigerian Embassy led by Ms Mercy Haruna, as well as other African Ambassadors and the leadership of the Nigerian Community in Russia.

The New Diplomat had reported how President Muhammadu Buhari on May 6 and July 1, 2020 respectively forwarded the names of the Career Ambassador-Designates and Non-Career Ambassador-Designates to the Nigerian Senate for screening and confirmation.

The Senate headed by Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan referred the communication from Buhari to the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee. The Committee screened the envoys in July before reverting back to the President.

According to the release, the list includes 43 Career Ambassadors and 52 Non-career Ambassadors. 11 envoys were re-appointed with eight retaining their current posting, while three were redeployed.

The eight that retained their seats include Mohammed Rimi (United Arab Emirates); Jidda Baba (China); Gani Bura (Lebanon); Yusuf Tuggar (Germany); Baba Madugu (Switzerland); Deborah Illiya (Congo); Ambassador Tijani Muhammmad-Bande (Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York) and Adeyinka (High Commissioner to Canada).

The three Ambassadors redeployed include the current Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Uzoma Emenike, who was posted to the United States becoming Nigeria’s first female envoy to the United States. Modupe Irele, the current Ambassador to France, is to be redeployed to Hungary, while the Nigerian Ambassador in Hungary, Eniola Ajayi has now been posted to the Netherlands.

See list below:

The Non-career Ambassadors

1. Dr Uzoma Emenike (United States)
2. Ambassador Tijani Muhammmad-Bande (UN)
3. Adeyinka Asekun (Canada)
4. Yahaya Lawal (Saudi Arabia)
5. Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (France)
6. Modupe Irele (Hungary)
7. Eniola Ajayi (The Hague, Netherlands)
8. Julius Adebowale Adeshina (Togo)
9. Oma Djebah (Thailand)
10. Ademola Seriki (Spain)
11. Umar Sulieman (DRC)
12. Kevin Peter (Czech Republic)
13. John Usanga (Guinea Bissau)
14. Elejah Onyeagba (Burundi)
15. Philip Ikurusi (Argentina)
16. Tarzoor Terhemen (Namibia)
17. Paul Adikwu (The Vatican, Italy)
18. Al-Bishir Al-Hussain (Morocco)
19. Monique Ekpong (Angola)
20. Ominyi Eze (Zambia)
21. Yamah Musa (Mozambique)
22. C. O Ugwu (Poland)
23. Hajara Salim (Malaysia)
24. Obiezu Chinyerem (Ireland)
25. Ali Magashi (South Korea)
26. M. A Markarfi (Brazil)
27. Hamisu Takalmawa (Tanzania)
28. Jazuli Gadalanci (Kuwait)
29. Sadiya Nuhu (Romania)
30. Olorundare Sunday Awoniyi (Venezuela)
31. Abioye Bello (Pakistan)
32. Zara Umar (Malawi)
33. Henry Omaku (Sierra Leone)
34. Sarafa Isola (United Kingdom)
35. Opunimi Akinkube (Greece)
36. Adejaba Bello (Mexico)
37. Adeshina Alege (Ukraine)
38. Folakemi Akinyele (Philippines)
39. Abdullahi Yibaikwal Shehu (Russia)
40. Maureen Tamuno (Jamaica)
41. Faruk Yabo (Jordan)
42. Adamu Hassan (Vietnam)
43. Abubakar Moriki (Japan)
44. Mohammed Rimi (United Arab Emirates)
45. Jidda Baba (China)
46. Gani Modu Bura (Lebanon)
47. Yusuf Tuggar (Germany)
48. Baba Madugu (Switzerland)
49. Deborah Illiya (Congo)
50. Abubakar Danlami Ibrahim (Trinida & Tobago))
51. Haruna Manta (South Africa)
52. Yusuf Yunusa (Kenya)

• The Career Ambassadors

1 C.O. Nwachukwu (Mali)
2 Kefas (Portugal)
3 R.U Brown (Gabon)
4 G.A Odudigbo (Liberia)
5 O.C Onowu (Brussels)
6 Y.S. Suleiman (Iran)
7 E.S. Agbana (Equitorial Guinea)
8 B.B.M. Okoyen (Cuba)
9 G.M. Okoko (Deputy Head of Mission to Switzerland)
10 M.I. Bashir (U.S. deputy ambassador)
11 M.O. Abam (Italy)
12 A.E. Allotey (Deputy France)
13 G. E. Edokpa (Deputy Permanent Representative to The UN)
14 A. N. Madubuike (Australia)
15 Adamu Lamuwa (Senegal)
16 Mr. Innocent A. Iwejuo (Deputy Ambassador to Ethiopia)
17 M. S. Abubakar (Guinea)
18 S. D. Umar (Austria)
19 A. Sule (India)
20 G. Y. Hamza (Ghana)
21 N. Rimi (Egypt)
22 L. S. Ahmed-Remawa (Deputy Cameroun)
23 M. Manu (Gambia)
24 R. Ocheni (Deputy Ambassador to Germany)
25 A. Yusuf (Turkey)
26 M. Abdulraheem (Burkina Faso)
27 W. A. Adedeji (Gabon)
28 A. U. Ogah (Indonesia)
29 A. A. Musa (Rwanda)
30 N. A. Kolo (Israel)
31 S.O. Olaniyan (Sudan)
32 A. R. Adejola (Switzerland Permanent Mission);
33 O. E. Awe (Deputy envoy to China)
34 O. O. Aluko (Benin Republic)
35 A.. Alatishe (Deputy Ambassador to Russia)
36 V. A. Adeleke (Ethiopia)
37 M. S. Adamu (Cote d’ivoire)
38 N. Charles (Southern Sudan)
39 Z M. lfu (Zimbabwe)
40 A. B. Hamman (Sweden)