Nwachukwu Urges Tinubu to Favor Career Ambassadors

Ik Nwachukwu, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, urging him to appoint more career ambassadors to the Nigerian Foreign Service. He criticized the current trend favoring political appointees over career diplomats, suggesting a 70-30 ratio of career to non-career ambassadors to facilitate the career progression of young diplomats.

Nwachukwu expressed disappointment that the government’s preference for political appointments has made it nearly impossible for young professionals to achieve ambassadorial positions despite their training and dedication. He highlighted that out of 62 ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate, only 34 were career ambassadors, while 31 were non-career appointees.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Sule Lamido also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of national pride and cultural identity in diplomacy. The discussion reflected on the evolution of Nigeria's foreign policy and the challenges faced by diplomats in the current political landscape.