Nigeria has taken a decisive step to reshape its diplomatic presence worldwide as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate—an expansive selection that blends political heavyweights, seasoned technocrats, and experienced career diplomats.

The list includes high-profile figures such as former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and immediate past INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu—a combination that signals Abuja’s intention to project stronger influence across key global capitals and multilateral institutions.

A Strategic Reconfiguration of Nigerian Diplomacy

With global geopolitics shifting rapidly—from intensified competition among major powers to rising regional blocs—Nigeria appears poised to reposition itself as a more assertive diplomatic actor. Tinubu’s nominations arrive at a time when African states are seeking increased leverage in global governance structures, trade negotiations, climate diplomacy, and security partnerships.

According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the nominees comprise 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career ambassadors, a deliberate balance aimed at merging institutional knowledge with political clout. The list also reflects a widening effort toward inclusion, featuring 10 women, split between career and non-career streams, in roles expected to strengthen Nigeria’s representation abroad.

Prominent Figures Lead the Non-Career Category

Among the non-career nominees are influential political and public figures:

• Reno Omokri – author, political strategist, and former presidential aide

• Femi Fani-Kayode – former aviation minister and public affairs analyst

• Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – former governor of Enugu State

• Mahmood Yakubu – immediate past INEC chairman

• Okezie Ikpeazu – former Abia governor

• Femi Pedro – former Lagos deputy governor

• Jimoh Ibrahim – businessman and serving Senator

• Erelu Angela Adebayo – former Ekiti First Lady

• Grace Bent – former Senator

• Tasiu Musa Maigari, Yakubu N. Gambo, Nora Ladi Daduut, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, Lola Akande, and Paul Oga Adikwu round out the list.

Their inclusion suggests Nigeria’s intention to position familiar political actors in countries where deep political negotiation, economic diplomacy, and diaspora engagement will be central.

Career Diplomats Positioned for Strategic Missions

The career nominees—drawn from Nigeria’s professional diplomatic corps—are expected to anchor missions that require stability, technical expertise, and continuity. They include:

Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Amb. Shehu Barde (Katsina), Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara), and Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).

Their deployment—yet to be officially assigned—will shape Nigeria’s long-term diplomatic footprint.

Global Power Capitals and Key Multilateral Institutions Targeted

The presidency confirmed that the ambassadors will be posted to strategically important countries, including:
China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, among others.

In addition, Nigeria is reinforcing its presence at global bodies such as:
the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union, reflecting a broader intention to influence international policy frameworks from climate action to peacekeeping to economic development.

Part of a Larger Diplomatic Overhaul

This round of nominations follows an earlier submission of ambassadors slated for postings in the United Kingdom, United States, and France—three of Nigeria’s most critical international partners. The move underscores Abuja’s broader foreign-policy reset aimed at tightening bilateral ties with major global economies while amplifying Nigeria’s voice in global governance.

Repositioning Nigeria in a Changing Global Order

As global dynamics evolve and Africa’s geopolitical relevance continues to expand, Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominations represent a calculated effort to project Nigerian influence, secure economic partnerships, engage diasporas, and assert leadership within continental and global institutions.

Once confirmed by the Senate, the new ambassadors will form a cornerstone of Nigeria’s renewed diplomatic architecture—one designed to meet the demands of an increasingly interconnected and competitive world.