Tinubu Nominates Former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as Ambassador, Sends 32 Names to Senate

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, marking the second batch of diplomatic appointments in less than a week. The new list includes former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who has been nominated as a non-career ambassador.

In two letters addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process for 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors.

Ikpeazu’s nomination stands out as one of the most notable from the Southeast, placing him among a diverse group of former governors, senators, commissioners, academics, and political figures selected to represent Nigeria in key foreign missions.

Other high-profile nominees include former INEC Chairman Mahmud Yakubu; former First Lady of Ekiti, Erelu Angela Adebayo; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro; former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande; former Oyo First Lady, Fatima Florence Ajimobi; and former presidential aide Reno Omokri.

The list also features several state-level political leaders such as former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia; former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker, Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Plateau Commissioner Yakubu Gambo; and former UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary, Tasiu Musa Maigari.

Ten women are included across both categories — four as career ambassadors and six as non-career nominees — reflecting a broadened spread of representation.

For the career ambassadorial positions, nominees include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), among others.

Those confirmed will be deployed to missions in countries with strategic ties to Nigeria, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will be assigned to multilateral posts at the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.

This second batch comes days after President Tinubu submitted three earlier nominees — Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are — all being considered for postings to the UK, USA, or France.

According to Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, more ambassadorial nominations will be announced soon as the administration restructures Nigeria’s diplomatic footprint.

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