A cross-section of the newly appointed Ambassadors…Photo Credit: Sodiq Adelakan
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday inducted the 94 newly appointed ambassadors, urging them to fight hard, and protect Nigerians living abroad.
The President who joined the event virtually urged the appointees to go out and represent the nation with utmost dedication and pride.
He said the Federal Government has identified nine priority areas to guide its foreign policy- cutting across health, corruption, transportation, security, education among others, urging the ambassadors to be guided also by these.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema on his part commended the President’s effort at fostering peace and a good bilateral relationship with the international community, which according to him cuts across security and trade.
Mr. Onyema, who noted that the relationship has also seen Nigeria receiving money looted from the country, added that the Nation is in good terms with every country in the world, with no exception.
He said President Buhari has leveraged on the goodwill of his foreign policy to secure the re-election of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala among other Nigerians holding key positions in international organisations.
According to a statement by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, said the newly appointed ambassadors are 94, eight Consul Generals, and five Charge D’ Affairs. 43 of them are career ambassadors while 53 others are political ambassadors.
The appointment follows the approval of the envoys by President Muhammadu Buhari.
While Aduda did not state when the President gave the approval, he noted that those to be posted included 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.
He said following the development, the government has already commenced the process of requesting Agrément from the prospective host countries.
The permanent secretary revealed that the ministry would organise an induction course for the ambassadors-designate and their spouses.
He explained that the event which would hold on a date to be announced soon was to prepare and facilitate the movement of the ambassadors-designate to their respective missions.