By Obinna Uballa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved the postings of 65 ambassadors-designate to various countries and the United Nations, comprising 31 career and 34 non-career diplomats, according to a statement on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy.
The Senate had confirmed the ambassadors-designate in December 2025, completing the formal vetting process.
As previously reported by The New Diplomat, the postings do not automatically grant official ambassadorial status to the nominees. The Federal Government must first secure agrément from the host countries, a process that can take several months.
The statement, however, said letters requesting agrément for the other envoys have been forwarded to the respective countries in line with diplomatic protocol.
The non-career appointees include prominent Nigerians such as Senator Grace Bent to Togo, Senator Ita Enang to South Africa, Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu to Israel, Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, Reno Omokri to Mexico, Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, and Jerry Samuel Manwe to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Other notable postings include Joseph Sola Iji to Russia and Ayodele Oke to France.
Among the career diplomats named are Amb. Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Amb. Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi to São Tomé and PrÃncipe, Amb. Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen to Malabo, Amb. Romata Mohammed Omobolanle to Tanzania, and Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata to Sierra Leone, among others.
The statement noted further that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu from the United Kingdom and Ambassador Ayo Oke from France.
Tinubu has directed that induction programmes for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners commence immediately to prepare them for their postings, the statement added.
The administration says the ambassadorial appointments are part of its broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and promote the country’s strategic interests globally.
