By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed former Minister of Sports, Sani Ndanusa, as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate after approving his nomination following a favourable assessment of his credentials and public service record.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello, representing Niger North.
Presenting the report, Bello said the committee was satisfied with Ndanusa’s qualifications, professional exposure, character and experience.
“We have thoroughly screened the nominee, and we are satisfied with his qualifications, exposure, conduct, character and experience,” he said.
Bello added that Ndanusa had a sound understanding of diplomatic affairs, saying, “The nominee has a wide and in-depth knowledge of diplomacy.”
Also supporting the confirmation, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, said his assessment of the nominee’s academic qualifications and record of public service showed that he was suitable for the appointment.
“I have carefully perused the résumé of the nominee with regard to his educational background and contributions to society in public service,” Monguno said.
He added, “He is eminently qualified for that position, and he is a square peg in a square hole.”
The Senate subsequently confirmed Ndanusa’s nomination at the Committee of the Whole.
Congratulating the former minister, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed confidence in his ability to perform in the new assignment and prayed for divine wisdom as he continued to serve the country.
“Let me use this opportunity to congratulate Ndanusa. I wish him well in his current assignment, and I hope that God will grant him more wisdom to do as he has done in other engagements,” Akpabio said.
Ndanusa, an engineer and public administrator, has a career spanning infrastructure development, government service and sports administration.
He holds a master’s degree in Water and Waste Engineering from Loughborough University, United Kingdom, and is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
He began his public service career in Niger State, where he worked as a senior engineer on infrastructure projects before serving as General Manager of the Niger State Water Board from 1999 to 2001. He subsequently became the board’s permanent secretary.
He later served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development and Commissioner for Transportation and Infrastructural Development in Niger State.
In December 2008, Ndanusa was appointed Minister of Sports by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a position he held until March 2010.
He also has considerable experience in sports administration, particularly tennis. He served as president of the Nigerian Tennis Federation from 2001 and was elected vice-president of the Confederation of African Tennis in 2003, securing re-election in 2007.
Ndanusa also served as vice-president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
His confirmation as ambassador/high commissioner-designate marks another phase in a career that has encompassed engineering, public administration, ministerial service and sports leadership.