President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 31 career and 34 non-career ambassadors to diplomatic missions worldwide, marking the most significant reshaping of Nigeria’s foreign representation since his administration took office.
The ambassadors-designate were confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December, paving the way for their deployment to strategic capitals across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
In a statement on Friday signed by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, the government said diplomatic notifications have been sent to host countries requesting agrément—the formal approval required before ambassadors can assume their posts.
“President Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners,” the statement added.
Among the postings are five ambassadors assigned to some of Africa’s largest and most influential economies, including South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya—countries central to Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and regional policy engagement.
Ita Enang — South Africa
This veteran Nigerian politician and lawyer, has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, the continent’s largest economies and Nigeria’s key trade and investment partner.
Born on August 23, 1962, Enang represented Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the Senate from 2011 to 2015 after serving three terms in the House of Representatives representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2011.
He later served in the presidency under former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari as Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters from 2015 to 2019 and subsequently as Senior Special Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs until 2022.
A trained lawyer, Enang studied law at the University of Calabar, graduating in 1984 before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 after completing training at the Nigerian Law School.
During his time in the National Assembly, Enang played a role in legislative efforts that contributed to the abolition of the onshore-offshore oil revenue dichotomy, a policy shift that significantly increased oil revenue allocations to littoral states such as Akwa Ibom.
Mohammed Monguno — Egypt
Mohammed Tahir Monguno has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Egypt, a key North African economic and geopolitical power.
Born on February 12, 1966, Monguno is currently the Chief Whip of Nigeria’s 10th Senate and represents Borno North Senatorial District.
Before his election to the Senate in 2023, he served for more than 15 years in the House of Representatives representing Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency in Borno State, where he also held the position of Chief Whip of the 9th House of Representatives.
A lawyer by training, Monguno studied law at the University of Maiduguri and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990.
Earlier in his career, he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Borno State from 2003 to 2005 and later held commissioner positions for education and water resources in the state government.
During his legislative career, Monguno chaired the House Ad-Hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill, which helped shepherd the landmark reform that eventually became the Petroleum Industry Act, restructuring Nigeria’s oil and gas sector after two decades of stalled reforms.
Aminu Nasir — Ethiopia
Aminu Nasir has been assigned to Ethiopia, home to the headquarters of the African Union and one of Africa’s most strategically important diplomatic postings.
Nasir is a seasoned Nigerian diplomat who has served at Nigeria’s mission in Addis Ababa, where he has been involved in multilateral engagements with African institutions and international organisations.
Nigeria’s embassy in Ethiopia is particularly influential because it represents the country not only in bilateral relations with Ethiopia but also in its diplomatic interactions with the African Union and other multilateral bodies based in the city.
Nasir has participated in several diplomatic engagements linked to AU development initiatives such as Agenda 2063 and has been involved in Nigerian delegations during AU summits.
During the 2025 African Union summit, he was part of the Nigerian diplomatic team supporting President Tinubu’s participation in high-level continental discussions.
Shehu Ilu Barde — Ghana
Shehu Ilu Barde, a career diplomat from Katsina State, has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana, one of West Africa’s most important commercial hubs.
Unlike several political ambassadors in the new diplomatic lineup, Barde is part of Nigeria’s professional diplomatic corps, having spent much of his career within the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Career diplomats such as Barde typically rise through the ranks of the foreign service, serving in various diplomatic postings before being elevated to ambassadorial roles.
His posting to Ghana comes at a time when relations between the two countries frequently involve trade negotiations, regional economic cooperation and disputes involving Nigerian businesses operating in Ghana.
As ambassador in Accra, Barde will play a central role in managing these sensitive bilateral economic issues while promoting deeper West African integration under the ECOWAS framework.
Ibrahim Danlami — Kenya
Ibrahim Danlami, another career diplomat, has been posted to Kenya, East Africa’s largest financial hub and one of the continent’s most influential diplomatic centres.
Danlami is a senior official within Nigeria’s foreign service system, having spent decades working within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad.
His career has involved responsibilities ranging from bilateral diplomacy and consular administration to political and economic reporting, which are core functions of Nigeria’s overseas missions.
As ambassador to Kenya, Danlami will oversee Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with East Africa’s largest economy and one of the continent’s most important financial and technology ecosystems.
