The Federal Government has presented Letters of Credence to 11 Ambassadors and High Commissioners-designate, charging them to promote investment, strengthen economic cooperation, protect the welfare of Nigerians abroad and advance the country’s citizen-centred foreign policy.
The Letters of Credence were presented on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, as the envoys prepare to assume duties at their respective diplomatic missions.
The envoys include Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, High Commissioner-designate to South Africa; Ambassador Jane Adams Bassey, Ambassador-designate to Jamaica with concurrent accreditation to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Belize; Ambassador Samuel Rueben Abimbola Tolulope, Ambassador-designate to Italy with concurrent accreditation to Albania; Ambassador Joseph John Galgadi, Ambassador-designate to Gabon; Ambassador Danladi Nyaku, Ambassador-designate to Sudan with concurrent accreditation to Eritrea; Ambassador Ahmed Olatunji Sulu-Gambari, Ambassador-designate to Malaysia; Ambassador Geoffrey Ijeoma David Chima, Ambassador-designate to Mali; Ambassador Philip Ikurusi, Ambassador-designate to Zimbabwe; Ambassador Raymond Abassi, Ambassador-designate to Hungary with concurrent accreditation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia; Ambassador Saidu Dahiru Mohamed, Ambassador-designate to India with concurrent accreditation to Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh; and Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok-Ete Ekwe (Rtd), High Commissioner-designate to the Philippines with concurrent accreditation to Cambodia.
Addressing the diplomats, Enikanolaiye said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places national development at the heart of Nigeria’s foreign policy, urging the envoys to vigorously pursue the country’s strategic interests.
He tasked them with attracting foreign direct investment, expanding trade and economic cooperation, promoting national security, safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora and advancing citizen-centred diplomacy.
The Minister also disclosed that each Head of Mission would be issued a customised Station Charter outlining clearly defined objectives, adding that annual performance evaluations would be conducted to measure achievements through analytical reporting, policy recommendations and measurable outcomes.
Enikanolaiye further highlighted the Ministry’s reform agenda anchored on the four pillars of Demography, Development, Democracy and the Diaspora (4-Ds), stressing that Nigerians remain the centrepiece of the country’s foreign policy.
He urged the ambassadors-designate to uphold accountability, responsiveness, teamwork and sustained collaboration with the Ministry to ensure Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Responding on behalf of the envoys, Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok-Ete Ekwe (Rtd) expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the comprehensive induction programme provided ahead of their postings.
He assured the Minister that the envoys fully understood the mandate entrusted to them by President Tinubu and pledged to faithfully implement Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, uphold the country’s image with professionalism and integrity, and work collectively to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s national interests while maintaining close collaboration with the Ministry throughout their tour of duty.
