From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Barrister Neya Uzor-Kalu, daughter of former Abia State Governor and serving Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, as one of Nigeria’s new non-career ambassadors in a fresh batch of 32 nominees transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.
Neya Kalu, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Sun Publishing Company, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun and Sporting Sun. She is also the founder of the Basecoat nail salon chain and a leading businesswoman with investments across multiple sectors.
A graduate of Law with an MSc in Finance from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom, she brings over 12 years of executive experience in developing and implementing business strategies. She previously served in the banking sector for five years as a Human Resource Manager.
Through the Neya Kalu Foundation, she is also known for her charity work supporting women and vulnerable children.
Tinubu Sends 32 Additional Ambassadorial Nominees to Senate
President Tinubu’s nomination of Neya Kalu came as part of a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees comprising 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees forwarded to the Senate in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The list features four women among the career diplomats and six among the non-career nominees, reflecting the administration’s ongoing push for broader gender inclusion in foreign service appointments.
Alongside Neya Kalu, notable non-career nominees include:
Reno Omokri (Delta), former presidential aide
Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, former INEC Chairman
Erelu Angela Adebayo, former Ekiti First Lady
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Enugu State Governor
Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Speaker, Katsina State
Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau Commissioner
Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, former Senator (Plateau)
Otunba Femi Pedro, former Lagos Deputy Governor
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister
Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Oyo First Lady
Lola Akande, former Lagos Commissioner
Grace Bent, former Adamawa Senator
Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Abia Governor
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman and lawmaker (Ondo)
Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu, former ambassador to the Holy See
The 15 career diplomats include:
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)
Amb. Shehu Barde (Katsina)
Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno)
Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna)
Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara)
Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)
The nominees will be deployed to countries with which Nigeria enjoys strategic diplomatic relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya. Others will serve at multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. Their specific postings will be assigned after Senate confirmation.
This new batch follows the three ambassadorial nominees submitted last week Amb. Ayodele Oke, Amb. Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and Retired Col. Lateef Kayode Are who are expected to be posted to the UK, USA, or France.
President Tinubu had earlier indicated that more ambassadorial appointments would follow as part of a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s diplomatic representation worldwide.
