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EXPLAINER: Who are non-career ambassadors?
In a bold move to reshape Nigeria’s global footprint nearly two years after recalling all envoys, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated 32 high-profile figures for ambassadorial roles, blending seasoned diplomats with political heavyweights.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The announcement, detailed in letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, includes 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career appointees—political allies and experts selected for their networks and expertise rather than traditional Foreign Service ladders. This hybrid approach, a hallmark of Nigerian diplomacy under Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution, aims to inject fresh vigor into bilateral ties but has ignited fierce debate over patronage and merit.
With Senate confirmation pending, the picks signal Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, targeting key economic and security partnerships, though critics decry it as rewarding loyalists over national interest.
Who Are Non-Career Ambassadors?
Non-career ambassadors represent a president’s prerogative to appoint outsiders—often politicians, donors, or specialists—to diplomatic posts, bypassing the rigorous career track of professional Foreign Service officers. In Nigeria, where about 40-50% of envoys historically fall into this category, these roles reward loyalty, ensure regional balance, and bring niche skills like intelligence or advocacy to the table.
Unlike career diplomats, who undergo decades of training and rotations, non-career picks typically serve shorter terms tied to the administration, with Senate vetting as the sole check.
Globally, the US mirrors this with 30-35% political ambassadors, but Nigeria’s system amplifies ethnic and political equity, making it a tool for federal cohesion.
Tinubu’s list, with its 53% non-career tilt, underscores this tradition while prioritising strategic outposts like the US, UK, and China.
The Initial Batch: Security Savvy for Western Capitals
Tinubu kicked off the nominations last week with three non-career heavy-hitters, all with deep intelligence and diplomatic pedigrees, poised for elite Western postings. Ambassador Ayodele Oke, a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) from Oyo, brings counterterrorism expertise honed at Emory University and a prior stint as Nigeria’s envoy to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Flanking him is Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are from Ogun State, a national security veteran who led the State Security Service (SSS) from 1999 to 2007, and Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu from Jigawa State, a Buhari-era diplomat who served in South Korea. These nominees, awaiting Senate nods, are tipped for the United States, United Kingdom, or France—hubs for oil deals, counter-extremism pacts, and climate talks—highlighting Tinubu’s focus on security amid Sahel threats and economic diplomacy.
The Big Reveal: 32 Nominees and High-Profile Non-Career Stars
Saturday’s blockbuster submission expands the roster to 32, explicitly splitting 15 career pros from 17 non-career influencers, with 10 women total (four in career slots, six non-career) to boost gender parity. The non-career slate reads like a who’s-who of political and public figures: former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, whose 2023 election oversight drew fraud allegations; vocal Tinubu ally Reno Omokri, the Delta-born ex-presidential aide and social media firebrand; ex-Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode from Osun, a polarising lawyer with a history of legal battles; former Abia Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; ex-Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi; ex-Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent; Ondo Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; ex-Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo; former Plateau Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut; ex-Lagos Deputy Governor Otunba Femi Pedro; Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra; Tasiu Musa Maigari, ex-Katsina House Speaker; Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau Commissioner; and Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu, ex-envoy to the Holy See from Benue. Career picks, like Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia) and Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), fill the merit-based complement, ensuring continuity in protocol-heavy roles.
Strategic Postings: Eyes on Economic Powerhouses and Multi-laterals
Once confirmed, these envoys will fan out to Nigeria’s vital partners, blending economic lures with geopolitical heft. Non-career stars like Omokri and Fani-Kayode could land in influencer-friendly spots such as Canada, India, or the UAE, leveraging personal clout for trade and diaspora outreach. Security-focused Oke might anchor Washington for counterterrorism synergy, while Yakubu’s electoral know-how suits multilateral forums. Key destinations include China and South Korea for infrastructure loans; Mexico and Qatar for energy swaps; South Africa and Kenya for AfCFTA boosts; and missions to the United Nations, UNESCO, and African Union for global advocacy on migration and climate. Tinubu teased more names soon, promising a full diplomatic overhaul to align with his reformist vision, though exact assignments hinge on Senate greenlights.
Backlash and Buzz: Rewards or Renewal?
The nominations have sparked a firestorm on social media and in op-ed pages, with detractors like lawyer Inibehe Effiong slamming the list as “rewarding criminality”—pointing to Yakubu’s disputed tenure and Fani-Kayode’s scandals as stains on Nigeria’s image. X (formerly Twitter) erupted with memes and rants, branding picks like Omokri “sycophants” unfit for global stages, echoing fears of patronage trumping professionalism.
Defenders, including Tinubu’s camp, hail the diversity—spanning states from Abia to Osun—as a masterstroke for unity and agility, arguing non-career voices like Ikpeazu’s can unlock investments where bureaucrats falter.
Civil society urges rigorous screenings to avert past gaffes, but with Tinubu pressing for “expeditious” action, the Senate’s week-long deadline could fast-track this contentious crew. As Nigeria eyes 2026 polls and economic rebound, these ambassadors will test whether political flair fortifies or fractures the nation’s diplomatic clout.
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Oyo police intercepts truck conveuing explosives in Saki
The Oyo State Police Command has announced an operational success recorded following an intelligence-led operation.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command intercepted a truck conveying materials suspected to be explosive devices during a stop-and-search operation in Saki, Oyo State. The truck and the suspected materials were promptly secured and are currently in police custody.
Upon receiving a briefing on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Consequently, specialised personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit were deployed to safely secure the items for safekeeping and forensic examination. Detailed forensic analysis has since commenced, alongside a thorough and robust investigation to determine the exact nature of the items and their intended use.
The truck driver has been taken into custody and is cooperating fully with investigators as efforts continue to unravel all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commissioner of Police commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his unwavering support, strategic leadership, and continued provision of operational guidance that enhance proactive, intelligence-driven policing across the country.
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Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
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Benue: Armed bandits kill motorcyclist, injure woman in Apa LGA
One person has died and another sustained injuries following an assault by suspected armed bandits in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
According to sources, the attack took place on January 24 around 4:00 p.m. along the Amoke–Odugbo road in Ukpogo Village, Edikwu Ward.
The victims, identified as Mr Joseph Okoh and Miss Aneh Sunday, both from Ogodumo, Adoka in Otukpo LGA, were reportedly riding a motorcycle when the assailants struck.
“They were rushed to the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ugbokpo, where Mr Okoh was confirmed dead while receiving treatment. Miss Sunday is currently admitted and responding to treatment,” the source stated.
Nigerian troops were quickly deployed to the area, and a search operation in the surrounding bushes is ongoing to apprehend the attackers.
“The Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation into the incident,” the source added.
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Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
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2026 UTME: JAMB scraps special privileges for albino candidates over malpractices
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has scrapped special concessions and registration procedures previously granted to candidates with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, citing abuse of the privilege to perpetrate examination malpractice.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The Board also warned faith-based tertiary institutions to clearly declare their religious status at the point of admission, saying it is deceptive to present as secular and later impose religious rules on students.
As reported by Vanguard, these decisions were taken on Saturday at a meeting between JAMB management, led by its Registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, and Commissioners for Education from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Oloyede said the meeting was convened to review and assess previous admission exercises.
He noted that despite safeguards introduced by the Board, some individuals remained determined to circumvent the system.
“We have stopped some concessions we gave albino candidates. This is because some are using artificial intelligence to manipulate the registration process to look like they are albinos because of the consideration we gave them.
“Last year alone, over 7,000 claimed to be albinos. We have stopped special registration procedures for albinos,” he said.
Addressing complaints from candidates admitted into some private institutions over compulsory religious instruction, Oloyede urged faith-based schools to be transparent.
“Faith-based institutions should declare from the onset what they are, so that whoever applies there will know what he is going to meet there. But some don’t do that. They will pretend to be secular, but once students are admitted, trouble will begin over religious instruction and injunctions.
“If you are a faith-based institution, say so. The law allows you to set up faith-based schools,” he said.
On last year’s UTME, where the highest-scoring candidate was later found to be a 300-level university student, the JAMB registrar said investigations showed that some undergraduates sit for the examination to change courses or assist others to secure admission.
“Students who are already in school but want to change courses and are applying again must declare and disclose their status.
“We have found that some candidates already in school are writing the examination for other candidates. Last year, the candidate who scored the highest was found to be a 300-level student in the university.
“Henceforth, any candidate found engaging in such an act, and who fails to disclose that he is already in school but wants to change course, will be disqualified and will also lose his current admission,” he said.
On admission criteria, Oloyede explained that federal government-owned institutions allocate 45 per cent on merit, 20 per cent on catchment area, 20 per cent to educationally disadvantaged states, while the remaining slots are allocated to other considerations.
“Each owner or state has the right to decide what its admission criteria will be. But for states, we encourage them to allocate at least 10 per cent to merit, regardless of where the candidates come from.
“This is to diversify the student population and admit eggheads from different communities,” he said.
He criticised some states for establishing new universities despite not fully utilising their admission quotas in existing federal institutions.
On underage candidates, Oloyede said 16 years remained the minimum admission age, noting that an attestation process was in place for exceptional cases.
“Last year, about 42,000 claimed to be underage. After evaluation, only 78 met the criteria and were admitted. We are not saying there are no talented candidates, but the figure looks outlandish,” he said.
The issue of how to engage underage candidates during a gap year divided opinions at the meeting, but a majority voted for JAMB to continue its special assessment process.
The meeting also observed that parental pressure on children to complete their education too quickly was a major contributor to the problem.
On efforts to curb examination malpractice, Oloyede said JAMB had stopped the movement of computers between Computer-Based Test centres.
“A computer registered in a particular centre will remain there and is not transferable to another centre. Some people borrow computers to get accredited and later move them around,” he said.
He dismissed claims that candidates were posted to towns they did not choose, saying personal data used for registration were drawn directly from the National Identification Number submitted by candidates.
Providing an update on the 2025 UTME, Oloyede said 974,855 candidates had so far been admitted out of about 1.95 million who sat for the examination.
He added that over N2.4 billion had been disbursed to institutions that consistently complied with JAMB’s rules over the past 10 years, and that the meeting agreed that schools producing the best candidates should be compensated.
On accreditation of CBT centres, Oloyede said the process involved teams comprising university vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts in each state.
He warned state governments against agreements with private promoters who might use centres to facilitate malpractice.
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Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
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