Accredited civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) have described the appointments of Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and Ambassador Kayode Are as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States as major diplomatic gains that have rapidly strengthened the country’s standing.
The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the director-general of the Civil Society Organisation on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI), Mr Kunle Yusuff, who said the two appointments had positioned Nigeria to exercise greater influence in both multilateral and bilateral diplomatic circles.
According to CSCHEI, the appointments signal Nigeria’s renewed relevance within the international community and demonstrate growing confidence in the country’s engagement with global institutions.
The organisation stated that the renewed acceptability of Nigeria within international partnership and funding structures showed that the country was “firmly” ly back on the global radar.
It also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing, as it described, individuals with extensive diplomatic experience and global networks to represent Nigeria at a critical period in the nation’s development.
CSCHEI said its assessment indicated that Nigeria could benefit from stronger executive-level relations with the United States and enhanced access to several United Nations agencies that could support the country’s development objectives.
Highlighting the performance of Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim since assuming office as Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 20 April 2026, the organisation noted that he ended a two-year vacancy in Nigeria’s substantive representation at the UN following the presentation of his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
It further pointed to his election as Chairman of the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee, the body responsible for overseeing the UN’s administration and human resources.
According to the statement, the development places a Nigerian in charge of one of the United Nations’ influential committees amid financial pressures and institutional reforms within the global body.
The civil society platform also credited Ambassador Ibrahim with advancing Nigeria’s position on United Nations Security Council reform and security challenges in the Sahel region.
It said he had reiterated Nigeria’s support for the creation of a permanent African seat on the Security Council, describing such representation as necessary for equitable global governance.
CSCHEI added that the Ambassador had continued to advance President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda on international platforms, presenting the reforms as measures to lay the foundation for long-term growth amid short-term challenges.
