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| The nominees. |
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of three non-career ambassadors to the Senate for confirmation. This comes almost two years after he recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career, in September 2023.
The nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke from Oyo State.
Below are the key details about the nominees:
AYODELE OKE, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE
State of Origin: Oyo State
Status: Retired career diplomat and former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
Professional Summary:
A seasoned diplomat with over 30 years of experience in Nigeria’s foreign affairs and intelligence sectors. He specialises in international relations, multilateral diplomacy, and national security. He served as Nigeria’s chief intelligence officer from 2013 to 2017, managing covert operations and foreign intelligence.
Key Appointments:
Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
Federal Republic of Nigeria
November 2013 – October 2017
– Appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan and supervised Nigeria’s external intelligence activities, including counter-terrorism and strategic intelligence collection.
Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat
London, United Kingdom,
c. 2005 – c. 2009
– Represented Nigeria in diplomatic engagements within the Commonwealth of Nations.
– Promoted diplomatic, economic, and governance initiatives.
– Took part in high-level policy discussions and bilateral relations across the 56-member organisation.
Director (Regions), National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
Headquarters, Abuja
– Coordinated regional intelligence operations across Africa and other areas.
Earlier Diplomatic Career:
– Entered the Nigerian Foreign Service as a career diplomat.
– Served in multiple diplomatic positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on consular duties and international relations.
LATEEF KAYODE ARE, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE
Year of Birth: 1955
Status: Retired Nigerian Army Colonel and former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS)
Education:
– Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy, University of Lagos, 1987
– B.Sc. Psychology (First Class Honours), University of Ibadan, 1980
(Best graduating student: University Senate Prize, Faculty of Social Sciences Prize, Department of Psychology Prize)
– Nigerian Defence Academy (Regular Combatant Course 12)
Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, December 1974 (Among the top 10 cadets)
Military Career:
– Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in 1974
– Served as Intelligence Officer, Directorate of Military Intelligence
– Rose to the rank of Colonel
– Left the Nigerian Army compulsorily in 1993
Senior National Security Appointments:
Director General, State Security Service (SSS)
May 1999 – August 2007
– Longest-serving DG in SSS history, serving under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua.
Deputy National Security Adviser
April 2010 – c. 2010/2011
Acting National Security Adviser
18 September 2010 – 4 October 2010
– Held the interim position after the resignation of Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.
Professional Summary:
A retired intelligence and national security specialist with more than 33 years of experience in both military and civilian intelligence, including eight continuous years as the head of Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency.
AMIN MUHAMMAD DALHATU, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE
State of Origin: Jigawa State
Status: Career diplomat and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Professional Summary:
A highly experienced diplomat with a strong background in international relations and bilateral diplomacy. He previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, strengthening economic, political, and cultural ties between both countries.
Key Appointments:
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea
Embassy of Nigeria, Seoul
c. 2017 – c. 2023
– Presented his Letters of Credence in September 2017 under President Muhammadu Buhari.
– Managed diplomatic affairs, consular responsibilities, and promoted Nigeria–Korea relations in trade, investment, and cultural collaboration.
Earlier Diplomatic Career:
– Served as a career diplomat in the Nigerian Foreign Service, holding various positions centred on international relations.
– Played significant roles in implementing Nigeria’s foreign policy within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
– Completed advanced diplomatic training and professional foreign service courses.
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