News

Tinubu Submits Fresh Ambassadorial List To Senate, Ibas, Dambazau Make Cut

Published

5 months ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has submitted a fresh list of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The nominees announced during Thursday’s plenary include the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter on the floor of the chamber, in which Tinubu requested expedited consideration to facilitate the filling of vacant diplomatic posts.

Akpabio referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and directed the committee to screen the nominees and submit its report within one week.

Recall that Tinubu, less than a week ago, submitted 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding on the earlier list of three announced. The list, released in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, comprises 15 career and 17 non-career nominees.

The nominees include former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Others on the non-career list are former Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Lagos Deputy Governor, Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; and former Oyo State First Lady, Florence Ajimobi.

The statement urged the Senate President, Akpabio, to “do quick to consider and confirm them”, noting that nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains significant bilateral relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya. Others will be assigned to Nigeria’s permanent missions to the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union. Posting details will be released after Senate confirmation.

The list includes ten women—four career and six non-career nominees—and features former governors, former ministers, former commissioners and former senators.

Non-career nominees include Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu; Reno Omokri; Mahmood Yakubu; Erelu Angela Adebayo; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Tasiu Musa Maigari; Yakubu N. Gambo; Professor Nora Ladi Daduut; Otunba Femi Pedro; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu; Fatima Florence Ajimobi; Lola Akande; Grace Bent; Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; and Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu.

Career ambassadors and high commissioner–designates are 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); Shehu Barde (Katsina); Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno); Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna); Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara); and Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).

Ambassadors serve as the President’s representatives abroad and are responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s activities in their host countries. Career ambassadors are trained diplomats with professional experience in the Foreign Service, while non-career ambassadors are appointed for political or strategic reasons, often based on the expertise they bring rather than prior diplomatic training.

President Tinubu at the time indicated that more ambassadorial nominations will follow.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.