By Naomi Sharang
Abuja, Dec. 16, 2025
The Nigerian Senate, in a session on Tuesday, formally confirmed the appointments of three individuals as non-career ambassadors, a critical step in shaping the nation’s diplomatic corps. The confirmed nominees are Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Emmanuel Oke (Oyo). This action underscores the ongoing process of staffing Nigeria’s foreign missions with political appointees who bring external expertise to the diplomatic service.
The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Committee Chairman, Sen. Sani Bello, informed the chamber that the nominees had demonstrated a “wide and in-depth knowledge of international diplomacy” during their screening process. This vetting is designed to assess a nominee’s grasp of foreign policy, Nigeria’s strategic interests, and their personal suitability for representing the country abroad.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee for its expeditious work and congratulated President Bola Tinubu, using the Nigerian proverb “for putting square pegs in square holes.” He charged the newly confirmed ambassadors with a core diplomatic mandate: to “bring greater relationships between Nigeria and any country they would be posted to.” This emphasizes the role of ambassadors as primary relationship-builders, tasked with fostering trade, security cooperation, and cultural ties.
Context and Distinction: Non-Career vs. Career Ambassadors
This confirmation highlights an important facet of diplomatic appointments. Unlike career ambassadors, who rise through the ranks of the foreign service, non-career ambassadors are typically political appointees selected from outside the professional diplomatic corps. They are often chosen for their expertise in specific fields (such as business, law, or academia), their political connections, or to reward service. Their appointments are a common practice in many nations, including the United States, where they constitute a significant portion of ambassadorial postings. The value lies in injecting fresh perspectives and specialized networks into foreign relations, though debates sometimes arise regarding the balance between political patronage and professional merit.
Broader Confirmation Landscape
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) provides crucial context: President Tinubu initially forwarded the names of these three non-career nominees on Nov. 26. However, a larger cohort of 65 other ambassadorial nominees—presumably career diplomats from the foreign service who have also been screened—remains pending confirmation. This indicates a phased or selective confirmation process by the Senate, possibly prioritizing these non-career appointments or awaiting further deliberations on the larger list.
Additional Confirmations
In the same session, the Senate also confirmed two commissioners for the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC): Aisha Kanti Bello and Dr. Animashaun Olayinka. This parallel action demonstrates the Senate’s multi-faceted role in vetting key executive appointments across critical sectors of governance, from foreign affairs to essential infrastructure and energy regulation.
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
Reporting by NAN (www.nannews.ng)
