President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, with former Oyo State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, emerging as one of the most prominent names on the roster. The latest submission, conveyed through two separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, comes just days after the president transmitted an initial batch of three nominees. Tinubu urged the Senate to give the list swift consideration, describing the appointments as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements.
The new list features 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors, with a total of 10 women nominated across both categories. This includes four women in the career stream and six in the non-career category, reflecting a growing push for broader female representation in Nigeria’s foreign service. Among the non-career nominees, Florence Ajimobi stands out alongside several political figures, former governors, ex-ministers, senators, presidential aides, and technocrats from across the country. Their collective experiences, ranging from governance and public administration to diplomacy, are expected to redefine Nigeria’s global presence.
The career ambassadorial nominations also include seasoned diplomats and public servants drawn from various states. Their backgrounds span foreign service postings, state and federal administrative roles, education, development sectors, and international relations. They are expected to bring their expertise into strategic foreign missions, helping Nigeria strengthen its bilateral and multilateral engagements.
According to the communication from the presidency, the ambassadorial nominees will be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains important diplomatic ties, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will be deployed to major permanent missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific diplomatic assignments will, however, be determined after the Senate concludes its screening and confirmation process.
The president had earlier forwarded three nominees—Ambassador Ayodele Oke from Oyo State, Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu from Jigawa, and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are from Ogun State, for consideration. They are reportedly in contention for key postings to the United States, United Kingdom, or France. President Tinubu added that more ambassadorial nominations would be unveiled soon as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic corps and ensure effective representation on the global stage.
