Senate Confirms Fani-Kayode, Omokri, Ex-INEC Chair, 61 Others as Ambassadors
The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of 64 individuals for appointment as Career and Non-Career Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, presented by its Chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger North), during plenary.
Presenting the report, Senator Bello said the committee thoroughly screened all nominees and found them suitable for diplomatic appointments. He noted that the nominations complied with relevant laws and extant guidelines governing Nigeria’s foreign service and diplomatic postings.
According to the report, 34 nominees were confirmed as Career Ambassadors, while 30 others were cleared as Non-Career Ambassadors.
Those confirmed as Career Ambassadors include Amb. Nwaobiala Ezenwa Chukwuemeka (Abia), Betso Maimunah Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi (Anambra), Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele (Bauchi), Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Amb. Adams Jane Bassey (Cross River), Amb. Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara) and Amb. Ramat Mohammed Omobolanle (Lagos).
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Others are Amb. Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel (Ekiti), Amb. Okechukwu Kingsley Onaga (Enugu), Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad (Kano), Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde (Katsina), Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris (Kebbi), Amb. Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi), Amb. Shaga John Shamah (Nasarawa), Amb. Ibrahim Danlami (Niger), Reuben Abimbola Samuel (Ondo), Amb. Akande Wahab Adekola (Osun), Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (Rivers), Danladi Yakubu Nyaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Sokoto).
The Senate also confirmed several prominent political figures and technocrats as Non-Career Ambassadors. They include former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Ita S.J. Enang (Akwa Ibom); former Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu; former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd); former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd); and former Ondo lawmaker, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Also confirmed were Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode, Prof. Isaac F. Adewole, Mr. Reno Omokri, Chief Olufemi Pedro, former Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mrs. Ajimobi Fatima Florence, Senator Grace Bent, Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Dadu’ut, Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo, among others drawn from across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Of the 65 nominees transmitted to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only the nominee from Yobe State, Adamu Garba Talba Nangree, was not confirmed, having failed to appear at the screening conducted by the committee.
Senator Bello explained that the committee remained in communication with the nominee and that arrangements were being made for his screening at a later date.
Following the adoption of the committee’s report, Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally confirmed the nominees and urged them to serve Nigeria with dedication while projecting the country’s image positively in their various diplomatic postings.
By PRNigeria
