On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate officially confirmed Professor Abayomi Fasina, the departing Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, as a non-career ambassadorial nominee. This decision came after the Senate reviewed the report submitted by its Committee on Foreign Affairs, which was delivered on the floor by Senator Simon Lalong.
During the session, the confirmation process sparked significant disagreement among lawmakers. Although Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Abdul Ningi advocated for the appointment, other members expressed strong opposition. Notably, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, who had originally signed the committee report in favor of the nominee, voiced his dissent during the proceedings.
Addressing these concerns, the Senate President emphasized that the committee had thoroughly evaluated findings from the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and the university’s governing council, all of which cleared Fasina of previous allegations. He urged his colleagues to prioritize official documentation over unsubstantiated rumors.
This confirmation proceeded despite a July 7, 2026, demonstration at the National Assembly by civil society groups. These organizations had urged lawmakers to reject the nomination, citing ongoing court cases regarding claims of sexual harassment, human rights abuses, and workplace victimization. The coalition argued that the Senate should have waited for the judicial outcomes in Lagos and Abuja before moving forward with the appointment.
