Tinubu Appoints Okowa, Anyim as South-South, South-East Coordinator of Renewed Hope Initiative
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as the South-South Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
This was announced during the inauguration of RHI zonal committees across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in Abuja, in a ceremony chaired on behalf of the President by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The full list of zonal appointments includes: South-South: Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, North-East: Isah Yuguda, North-West: Aminu Bello Masari, South-East: Anyim Pius Anyim, South-West: Oladipupo Oyinbande and North-Central: Tanko Al-Makura.
According to the Presidency, the creation of these zonal committees aims to deepen public awareness of the administration’s long-term plans, strengthen grassroots engagement, and ensure that the RHI’s social, economic, and development programmes reach every region effectively.
Recall that last week, President Tinubu nominated 32 additional ambassadors, including four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.
Among the non-career ambassador designees are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide; Reno Omokri (Delta), a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Mahmud Yakubu, a former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Others include Tasiu Musa Maigari, a former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly; Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are also on the nomination list.
Additionally, the list features former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi; former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent; former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a businessman, lawyer, and Senator from Ondo State; and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are 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), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
Other nominees include Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kawara), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
The new appointees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All nominees will receive their diplomatic assignments after Senate confirmation.
Last week, President Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and approval. The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are under consideration for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their approval.
President Tinubu stated that more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon.
