Nigeria’s New Envoy To Washington Officially Begins Diplomatic Assignment After Meeting Trump
- May 25
- 2 min read
Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, Kayode Are, has formally assumed office in Washington after presenting his diplomatic credentials to US President Donald Trump at the White House.
The presentation ceremony, which took place in Washington, DC, marked the official recognition of Are as Nigeria’s representative to the United States government. The event featured diplomatic formalities involving American protocol officials, security personnel, and representatives from several foreign missions.
Are was among a group of newly accredited envoys from different countries received by the US president during the ceremony. Diplomats from nations across Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America also submitted their credentials as part of the same diplomatic process.
The Nigerian envoy was appointed earlier in the year by President Bola Tinubu following Senate confirmation of his nomination. His deployment to Washington is seen as part of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen strategic ties with the United States on security, trade, migration, and investment matters.
Before his diplomatic appointment, Are built a long career within Nigeria’s military and intelligence community. He previously headed the State Security Service, now known as the Department of State Services, and remains one of the longest-serving leaders in the agency’s history.
Born in 1955, the retired army colonel began his military training at the Nigerian Defence Academy before being commissioned into the Nigerian Army in the 1970s. During his years in service, he worked extensively in military intelligence operations and later held senior national security responsibilities.
Beyond the military, Are also earned recognition for his academic achievements. He graduated with a first-class degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan, where he emerged as one of the institution’s top-performing students. He later obtained a postgraduate degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos.
Following Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, he was appointed to lead the country’s domestic intelligence agency and later served in senior national security advisory roles within the federal government. Analysts believe his security background could shape deeper cooperation between Nigeria and the US in areas such as counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional stability.
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