E be like say our former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, don open mouth talk as he call for fresh ambassadors wey go represent Nigeria to sabi the work dem well well before dem land for their new zone. Na Abuja, during di Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026 wey dem organize, Fashola gree talk am well well.
Him yarn say if we want make our ambassadors sabi wetin dey happen for our country, dem need proper briefing about di policies and wetin dey our economic mind. Na so we fit shine for diplomatic side. Fashola talk am shortly after di Senate don confirm 65 new ambassadors wey include people like Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri.
Im still talk say dem confirmed nominees no be small; e include former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, and others wey sabi wetin dem dey do. Na 34 career ambassadors and 31 non-career ones wey dey join body for dis mission. Fashola tell dem say to chop breakfast for dinner no dey work, especially when ambassador no sabi di country own policies well.
“I don experience am before,” he talk, “as I visit one African country, our ambassador no sabi di purpose of our visit. Wetin we dey do for there? That na serious error wey fit make Nigeria lose as we dey represent ourselves abroad,” he yarn.
Fashola dey push make dem fit prepare dem ambassadors well before dem land for their countries because wetin dem sabi go help them to explain how Nigeria sabi run im matter well. E talk say dem for fit sabi everything from tax laws to oil policies and how long e go take person to register business for Nigeria.
Furthermore, he don talk say e no dey too late to arrange di matter, and him recommend say dem fit join all di ministries together to get things rolling. Dem no suppose dey wait till dem don reach abroad, abeg!
Fashola no gree just end there! E criticise di way ambassadors dey always dey invite ministers for foreign trips, calling am waste. He mention say, “I dey always receive letters from dem inviting us, but most of dem dey find their way to my shredder. Wetin I go do for there? Na here na im get di real wahala!”
He talk say Nigeria suppose make am possible for dem to come visit, instead of us dey waka reach dem. “Dem fit feel Nigeria better if dem experience di culture first hand. If person don come taste Nigeria, e go dey fine pass when dem dey hear say make dem no come.”
For change to happen, Fashola believe say Nigeria fit use di MICE strategy well for economic gain. Those meeting, incentives, conventions and exhibitions fit turn Nigeria into place wey people go want land. E vex say we no dey run plenty of di music concerts we dey produce here, yet people no dey come experience am live.
The president of di Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku, don talk say e no defend di controversial $9m US lobbying deal wey dey cause wahala. E clarify say abi di matter vex him because di lobbying itself no be crime, but di way dem run di contract na di real issue.
So, as we dey watch all dis ambassadors begin dem work, let’s hope say dem go fit gree jaga-jaga for di country and represent us well, abeg!
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