Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, with concurrent accreditation to Cyprus, Nkechi Ufochukwu, has formally commenced her diplomatic assignment in Cyprus after presenting her Letters of Credence to President Nikos Christodoulides.

The ceremony took place on Friday at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, according to a statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Israel. The presentation formally confirmed Ufochukwu as Nigeria’s principal envoy to Cyprus.

During the ceremony, the ambassador conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill message to President Christodoulides and pledged to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Cyprus.

In response, the Cypriot president welcomed Ufochukwu and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between both countries. He highlighted their shared historical experiences, common principles and enduring people-to-people ties.

Christodoulides also recognised Nigeria’s strategic importance in West Africa and across the African continent, particularly its contributions to regional dialogue, cooperation, integration and stability.

He expressed his government’s readiness to work with Nigeria to expand cooperation in areas including trade, investment, education, political dialogue and other shared interests.

The presentation of Letters of Credence is a formal diplomatic procedure that accredits an ambassador to represent their country and establishes an official channel of communication between the governments concerned.

Abia-born celebrity, author, and media personality, Chief Amb. Delight Benson, popularly known as Queen PhinaDon, has endorsed Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, for a second term.

Queen PhinaDon, author of My Last Journey to Nigeria and Unseen Untold, said her decision was based on Governor Otti’s achievements and visible transformation across the state.

The founder of PDMI Solutions and the PhinaDon Humanitarian Awards made the declaration in a video recorded in Umuahia shortly after returning from Copenhagen, Denmark, where she is based.

She stated that the progress recorded under Governor Otti’s administration justified her support for his re-election bid in 2027.

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of Engineer Sani Muhammad Ndanusa as a non-career ambassador and high commissioner.

The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of the report submitted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Abubakar, representing Niger North. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had nominated Ndanusa for the diplomatic position, after which he appeared before the committee for screening.

Presenting the committee’s recommendations during plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced Ndanusa’s confirmation after lawmakers unanimously endorsed the nomination through a voice vote.

Akpabio congratulated the nominee and expressed confidence that Ndanusa would draw on his professional experience to advance Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and strengthen the nation’s relations with other countries.