President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, days after submitting an initial batch of three nominees.

The latest list includes prominent political figures such as former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta); former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun).

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President transmitted the names in two separate letters addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Tinubu requested the “expeditious consideration and confirmation” of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.

The statement, titled “Tinubu Nominates 32 Additional Ambassadors,” noted that the list comprises four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.

Other notable non-career nominees include Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia); former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi Adebayo; former Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Deputy Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Yakubu N. Gambo; former Plateau Senator, Professor Nora Ladi Daduut; former Lagos Deputy Governor, Otunba Femi Pedro; businesswoman Nkechi Ufochukwu (Anambra); and former Oyo First Lady, Florence Ajimobi.

Also on the list are former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent; former Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo). Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), was also nominated.

The career ambassadorial nominees 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); Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina); Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno); Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna); Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara); and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).

Onanuga stated that the nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains strategic diplomatic relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as to key multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.

“The nominees will know their specific postings after Senate confirmation,” he said.

Earlier last week, President Tinubu submitted three ambassadorial nominees,  Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), who are being considered for postings to the United Kingdom, the United States, or France.

Onanuga added that more ambassadorial nominees will be forwarded to the Senate in due course.

Saturday’s development aligns with earlier reports that the administration intends to stagger ambassadorial postings across strategically important countries to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.