FG Lists Criteria For Ambassadorial Appointments

The Federal Government has said its basic criteria for
appointing people as career ambassadors include being considered to
be trusted hands with a track record of diligence, experience and
professionalism in the Foreign Service.

This was disclosed at the weekend by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, at a send-off dinner organised in honour
of Ambassador-designate to the State of Qatar, Ambassador Yakubu
Ahmed, who is also the outgoing Director of Protocol (DOP) at the
State House.

According to a statement by Deputy-Director of Information in
the State House, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye, Onyema said the appointment
of Ahmed and other career ambassadors were predicated on posting
dedicated and keen Foreign Service practitioners to serve as
image-makers of the country.

The Minister recalled that President Buhari had visited the
State of Qatar in 2016 and the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Tamim
Bin Hammad Al-Thani reciprocated with a State visit in 2019.

He said there had been discussions with Qatar on partnership
with Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, for significant investments
in the region of 5 billion dollars in the Nigerian economy.

He said: ‘‘It is a weighty and strategic country and very
strategic in that part of the world and we are putting our best
feet forward to advance the interest of our country economically
and in other areas.”

Speaking at the ceremony at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential
Villa, Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Adeola Ipaye,
described the honouree as a ‘‘perfect gentleman, very even-natured
and always well turned out.’’

Ipaye said he had no doubt the newly appointed ambassador would
serve the country well in Qatar, adding that ‘‘we are further
encouraged that when he completes this assignment he would return
to serve Nigeria in a higher capacity.’’

The Ambassador-Designate thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for
the great honour and privilege of making him his principal
representative in Doha, Qatar.

He pledged to deplore his energy and skill to the promotion of
the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Qatar,
particularly in the areas of economic, political, cultural and
consular affairs as well as other key areas.

The Federal Government has said its basic criteria for
appointing people as career ambassadors include being considered to
be trusted hands with a track record of diligence, experience and
professionalism in the Foreign Service.

This was disclosed at the weekend by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, at a send-off dinner organised in honour
of Ambassador-designate to the State of Qatar, Ambassador Yakubu
Ahmed, who is also the outgoing Director of Protocol (DOP) at the
State House.

According to a statement by Deputy-Director of Information in
the State House, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye, Onyema said the appointment
of Ahmed and other career ambassadors were predicated on posting
dedicated and keen Foreign Service practitioners to serve as
image-makers of the country.

The Minister recalled that President Buhari had visited the
State of Qatar in 2016 and the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Tamim
Bin Hammad Al-Thani reciprocated with a State visit in 2019.

He said there had been discussions with Qatar on partnership
with Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, for significant investments
in the region of 5 billion dollars in the Nigerian economy.

He said: ‘‘It is a weighty and strategic country and very
strategic in that part of the world and we are putting our best
feet forward to advance the interest of our country economically
and in other areas.”

Speaking at the ceremony at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential
Villa, Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Adeola Ipaye,
described the honouree as a ‘‘perfect gentleman, very even-natured
and always well turned out.’’

Ipaye said he had no doubt the newly appointed ambassador would
serve the country well in Qatar, adding that ‘‘we are further
encouraged that when he completes this assignment he would return
to serve Nigeria in a higher capacity.’’

The Ambassador-Designate thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for
the great honour and privilege of making him his principal
representative in Doha, Qatar.

He pledged to deplore his energy and skill to the promotion of
the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Qatar,
particularly in the areas of economic, political, cultural and
consular affairs as well as other key areas.