Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Kayode Are, has officially presented his Letter of Credence to United States President Donald Trump at the White House, formally beginning his diplomatic assignment in Washington.
The development was disclosed on Sunday by Reno Omokri through a post shared on his official X handle.
Omokri, who identified himself as Ambassador-designate to Mexico, congratulated Are on the achievement and praised his record of service to Nigeria.
According to him, Are’s presentation of credentials followed his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year.
“Hearty congratulations to my friend, His Excellency, Colonel Kayode Are (Rtd), Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, who has presented his Letters of Credence to President Donald Trump,” Omokri wrote.
He noted that Are was posted to the United States by President Tinubu on January 22, 2026.
The presentation of a Letter of Credence is a major diplomatic ceremony that formally confirms an ambassador as the official representative of a country in another nation.
Under diplomatic tradition, ambassadors cannot fully begin official duties until they present their credentials to the host country’s head of state.
The ceremony usually takes place at the White House in the United States and symbolises the formal acceptance of the envoy by the American government.
Kayode Are’s appointment places him in one of Nigeria’s most important diplomatic positions because of the strong political, economic and security relationship between Nigeria and the United States.
Nigeria and the United States maintain long-standing ties in areas such as trade, security cooperation, education, health and democratic governance.
The United States remains one of Nigeria’s major international partners and hosts a large Nigerian community involved in business, academics, healthcare and technology.
Before his diplomatic appointment, Are built a long career in Nigeria’s military and security services.
He is a retired colonel who previously served as Director-General of the Department of State Services, one of the country’s top security agencies.
He also served as National Security Adviser, a role that placed him at the centre of national security planning and intelligence coordination.
During his years in public service, Are was regarded as an experienced intelligence and security officer with extensive knowledge of national security matters.
Omokri described his service record as “sterling” and “unblemished,” expressing confidence that he would represent Nigeria effectively in the United States.
The former presidential aide also praised the ambassador’s appearance during the ceremony, particularly his decision to wear traditional Nigerian attire.
According to Omokri, Are projected Nigeria’s culture and soft power by dressing in an elegant Aṣọ òkè outfit during the White House event.
“I also acknowledge and celebrate the fact that you displayed Nigeria’s culture and projected our nation’s soft power by dressing in an elegant and flawless Aṣọ òkè ensemble,” he stated.
Aṣọ òkè is a traditional handwoven fabric associated mainly with the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria and is often worn during important ceremonies and celebrations.
In recent years, Nigerian public officials and diplomats have increasingly used traditional clothing during international events as a way of promoting Nigerian culture and fashion globally.
Nigeria has continued to face security challenges including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and separatist violence, making international security partnerships increasingly important.
The United States has over the years supported Nigeria through military training, intelligence cooperation and humanitarian assistance, particularly in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
Beyond security matters, the Nigerian ambassador is also expected to promote trade and investment opportunities between both countries.
Economic relations between Nigeria and the United States cover sectors such as oil and gas, technology, agriculture, education and financial services.
Nigeria remains one of America’s key trade partners in Africa, while many Nigerian professionals and students continue to travel to the United States for education and business opportunities.
The role of ambassador also involves protecting the interests of Nigerians living abroad and strengthening diplomatic communication between governments.
Meanwhile, congratulatory messages continued to pour in from associates, supporters and Nigerians on social media following the announcement.
Many praised Are’s career achievements and wished him success in his new assignment.
For Nigeria, the formal presentation of credentials marks the beginning of another chapter in diplomatic relations with the United States at a time both countries continue to seek closer cooperation on economic growth, security and international affairs.
As ambassador, Are is expected to play a major role in deepening those ties while representing Nigeria’s interests at one of the world’s most influential diplomatic posts.