ABUJA – The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointments of 64 ambassadorial nominees, including prominent politicians, former public office holders and career diplomats, following the consideration of a report by its Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Among those confirmed as non-career ambassadors and high commissioners are Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South); former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu; Senator Ita Enang; public commentator Reno Omokri; Senator Grace Bent; and Professor Nora Ladi Dadu’ut.
Also cleared by the Senate were Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff from Cross River State; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff; former Minister of Health, Femi Fani-Kayode; Erelu Angela Adebayo from Ekiti State; Florence Ajimobi from Oyo State; and Mrs Chioma Ohakim, among others.
Breakdown of Nominees
The confirmed list comprises 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners, bringing the total number of nominees to 64.
Notable names among the career ambassadorial nominees include Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed from Kwara State, Segun Ige from Edo State, and Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen, also from Edo State.
The confirmation followed the presentation and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North). Presenting the report, Senator Bello informed the chamber that all the nominees were found qualified and suitable for their respective appointments, adding that no petitions were submitted against any of them during the screening process.
It will be recalled that during the screening exercise, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim was the first nominee to be invited and received a warm reception, being a serving senator and a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Congratulating the newly confirmed ambassadors, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged them to uphold Nigeria’s image and represent the country with dignity and patriotism in their various postings.
Akpabio also made a light-hearted appeal to Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to remain in close contact with the Senate, noting that the chamber would continue to benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience.
