A Bold Step for Nigeria’s Global Image: Ondo Scholars Welcome Jimoh Ibrahim’s Ambassadorial Nomination
The Ondo State Scholar Arena, the largest and most influential body of intellectuals, researchers, and academic professionals in Ondo State extends its profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the nomination of Distinguished Senator (Dr.) Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, as an ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This decision is quite strategic and timely too, has come at a moment when Nigeria’s global image requires a voice of courage, intellect, and international authority. With the recent declaration by President Donald Trump classifying Nigeria as a country of concern, our nation urgently needs a representative who has the knowledge, exposure, character, boldness, and academic depth to stand confidently at the global stage particularly at the United Nations and defend Nigeria’s interest with clarity, competence, and patriotic conviction. In Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria has without doubt found such an individual.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s academic journey is an extraordinary combination of brilliance, discipline, and global capacity. He began his pursuit of learning at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where he earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) where he demonstrated early signs of academic excellence. He later advanced his studies across the world’s most prestigious global institutions, including Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford, where he obtained several elite degrees such as a Master’s in Law and International Taxation, an MBA, and a Master’s in Programme Management. His academic distinction reached a historic height in 2022 when the University of Cambridge awarded him a Doctorate in Business, making him the first recipient of that degree since the university’s establishment in 1209, a landmark achievement that places him in a rare class of global intellectuals.
After completing his National Youth Service Corps program, Senator Ibrahim embarked on an exceptional career in law, specializing in corporate law and taxation, before expanding his professional influence into the world of business. Through hard work and visionary leadership, he built the Global Fleet Group, a conglomerate with diversified interests spanning oil and gas, banking, insurance, real estate, and hospitality. His business ventures include the establishment and management of Energy Commercial Bank Ghana (now First Atlantic Bank), Energy Bank São Tomé, NICON Insurance Abuja, Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, NICON Luxury Hotels in Abuja and Lagos, and Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited. His achievements in business leadership have strengthened Nigeria’s presence in global financial and commercial sectors and showcased the ingenuity and capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s international influence and diplomatic engagements are equally remarkable. He has served as Honorary Consul for the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe in Nigeria, Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Executive Member of the African Parliament, Member of the ECOWAS Parliament, and Interim President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva in 2023, an institution that represents the national parliaments of 180 countries. Through these roles, he has stood firmly to defend Nigeria, represent the nation’s interests, and contribute to global policy dialogues. He also initiated the annual Infrastructure Development Funding for Africa (IDFA), a continental platform that gathers African leaders to deliberate on sustainable financing for Africa’s growth and development.
His contributions to education are equally commendable. Senator Ibrahim is the founder of the University of Fortune, recently licensed by the Nigerian government. This validates his commitment to nurturing knowledge, raising future leaders, and expanding educational opportunities for Nigerians. His capacity to manage complex institutions, analyze problems with clarity, and make informed decisions has been reinforced by decades of leading successful businesses and engaging in high-level legislative work. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, he has traveled across the world, interacted with global policymakers, engaged international institutions, and acquired diplomatic experience that few Nigerian legislators possess.
At this critical moment in Nigeria’s history, when the nation needs a representative with global experience, intellectual strength, diplomatic skill, and patriotic courage, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim stands out as the most suitable figure. His academic brilliance, international exposure, leadership competence, and proven capacity to defend Nigeria make him an ideal choice for the ambassadorial responsibility, especially at the level of the United Nations. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could not have made a more fitting nomination.
The Ondo State Scholar Arena proudly supports this excellent decision and affirms that Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is the kind of ambassador Nigeria needs at this defining time one who can speak for the nation with confidence, defend her interests with clarity, and project her image with honor. His life story reflects excellence, his achievements demonstrate capacity, and his global engagements confirm his readiness for this national responsibility.
We congratulate President Tinubu for this visionary step and celebrate Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as an exemplary son of Ondo State, a scholar of international repute, a leader of courage, and a patriot prepared to represent Nigeria with dignity and distinction on the global stage.
Signed,
Odofin Oluwafemi Olusegun.
Convener.