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Ambassador Ayodele Oke formally assumed office after presenting his Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Nigeria’s new Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, has pledged to strengthen and recalibrate relations between Abuja and Paris, with security, trade and investment at the centre of his diplomatic agenda.
Oke made the commitment on October 5, 2026, after presenting his Letters of Credence to French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
The ceremony formally marked Oke’s assumption of duty as Nigeria’s 17th ambassador to France.
In a statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in France, Oke said his mission would focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation while protecting Nigeria’s interests and reputation.
He said the relationship required a renewed approach that would strengthen cooperation in security, trade and investment.
The ambassador also identified protecting Nigerian citizens and promoting the country’s national image as part of his diplomatic priorities.
Oke’s Diplomatic Agenda
Oke said recalibrating the relationship would involve more than formal government-to-government engagement.
He pledged to shape diplomatic conversations, secure advantages for Nigeria, protect citizens and promote the country’s image abroad.
The approach places economic and security cooperation alongside Nigeria’s broader diplomatic interests in France.
His appointment comes as Nigeria seeks to deepen engagement with major international partners through its new ambassadorial postings.
President Bola Tinubu approved 65 ambassadors and high commissioners in March 2026, including Oke as ambassador-designate to France. The Senate had earlier confirmed the nominees following screening by its Foreign Affairs Committee. (Punch Newspapers)
Why France Matters To Nigeria
Oke’s priorities reflect areas where Nigeria and France already maintain significant diplomatic and economic interests.
Security cooperation remains important because France is a major European partner in West Africa, while trade and investment provide opportunities for expanding economic relations.
The ambassador’s emphasis on investment also comes as Nigeria seeks to attract more foreign capital and strengthen commercial partnerships beyond traditional diplomatic engagement.
Oke will therefore be expected to translate diplomatic relations into practical outcomes in areas identified as priorities by his administration.
A New Phase Of Engagement
The presentation of Letters of Credence is a formal diplomatic process that allows an ambassador to officially assume representation of their country in the host state.
Oke had earlier been named Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to France alongside Aminu Dalhatu, appointed to the United Kingdom, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. (The Nation)
His formal accreditation in Paris now begins the substantive phase of his diplomatic assignment.
For Nigeria, the immediate test will be whether the new mission can convert the stated priorities of security, trade and investment into concrete bilateral initiatives.
Oke said the objective was to elevate and recalibrate the partnership between Nigeria and France while upholding Nigeria’s values and reputation.
The coming months will show how those priorities translate into diplomatic, economic and security engagement between Abuja and Paris.
