FG issues letters of credence to UK, France, UN ambassadors-designate

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The minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, with Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, Ambassador Ayodele Oke and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim. Photo credit: Odumegwu-Ojukwu/X

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The minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has presented Letters of Credence to three ambassadors-designate, authorising them to represent Nigeria in their respective postings.

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The recipients are Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu (United Kingdom), Ambassador Ayodele Oke (France), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations in New York.

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Presenting the documents on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she was honoured to formally accredit the envoys.

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She explained that Letters of Credence are official documents issued by a Head of State to introduce and accredit ambassadors to host countries.

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“In diplomatic practice, Letters of Commission (more commonly referred to as Letters of Credence), are formal, physical letters issued by a Head of State or head of government to another Head of State, introducing a newly appointed ambassador or high commissioner and officially accrediting a diplomat to a foreign nation, authorizing them to represent their home country’s interests and act on its behalf, and requesting the host country to give “credence” (trust) to that representative,” she wrote on X on Tuesday.

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The minister congratulated the envoys and wished them a successful tour of duty.

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The presentation follows the approval of 65 ambassadors and high commissioners by President Tinubu. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, 31 non-career and 34 career diplomats were deployed after their confirmation by the Senate in December 2025.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since begun induction for the envoys, who are expected to assume duty after receiving agreement from their host countries.

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