Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ambassador Ahmed Olatunji Sulu-Gambari, has formally presented his Letters of Credence to the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor.
The colourful ceremony was held at the Singgahsana Kecil, Istana Negara, the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Ambassador Sulu-Gambari presented both the copies d’ usage and the Letters of Credence within 48 hours of his resumption in Malaysia.
The copies d’ usage were earlier submitted to the Chief of Protocol at the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs a day before the palace ceremony.
The High Commissioner was accompanied by Ms Onyinye Maryjane Nwefuru, First Secretary and Head of Chancery.
In line with established diplomatic protocol, the presentation was conducted with full ceremonial honours. The event featured a General Salute mounted by the Royal Guard, reflecting the importance Malaysia attaches to the accreditation of Heads of Mission.
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During the same ceremony, Letters of Credence were also presented by the Ambassador-Designates and High Commissioner-Designate of Albania, Brunei Darussalam, the Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Republic of Mauritius.
Delivering his remarks, Ambassador Sulu-Gambari, an Indigene of Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to further strengthening the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and Malaysia, and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to formally present his credentials.
In response, Sultan Ibrahim warmly recalled his longstanding acquaintance and cordial interactions with Nigerians. He underscored the enduring friendship between the two peoples and expressed interest in undertaking a visit to Nigeria, a gesture seen as a sign of goodwill and confidence in the growing bilateral relationship.
A notable highlight of the audience was the king’s admiration for Ambassador Sulu-Gambari’s distinctive traditional Nigerian attire. The moment provided an opportunity to promote cultural exchange between both countries.
Acknowledging the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening people-to-people ties, the High Commissioner affirmed his commitment to follow up on initiatives that will translate the discussions into concrete programmes in the near future.
The Monarch congratulated Ambassador Sulu-Gambari on his appointment and wished him a successful, productive, and fulfilling tour of duty in Malaysia.
