By Milton Tella – The head of The Commonwealth, Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of diplomatic missions and many others, were in attendance as the Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola officially presented his Letters of Credence to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, on Thursday 25 November, 2021. The presentation also falls on his 61st birthday.
Past High Commissioners
Some of the past Nigeria High Commissioners to the United Kingdom were Justice Bola Ajibola KBE 1999 – 2002, Dr. Christopher Olusola Kolade (CON) 2002 – 2007, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR, 2008 – 2016, George Adesola Oguntade CFR, CON, 2017 – 2021.
Who is Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola?
The current High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom is Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola. A graduate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, England and a holder of Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Attended Southwest London college to study Principles of Investment. He studied Leaders in Development at Harvard University and was an International Visitor Graduate of the Department of State, United States of America.
He has participated in thirty-six overseas missions involving bilaterals, multilaterals and study tours in UK, USA, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Canada, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Netherlands, Malta, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, India, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia,Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’iVoire, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Gambia, in the last twenty-two years.
Lecturer in Business Statistics, Marketing and Economics at Federal College of Education, Katsina. Elected Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of state for Finance. Secretary to Ogun State Government. Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development and High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom.
Horse drawn carriage
The colourful ceremony which started from the Buckingham Palace, with two Semi-State Landaus and one Limousine departed enroute Buckingham Palace Road, via The Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Great Scotland Yard and halted at the Nigeria High Commission building, Northumberland Avenue, to pick up His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Isola and his amiable wife Mrs Bolanle Isola, on a horse drawn procession for an audience with Her Majesty The Queen.
The return journey from Buckingham Palace to Ambassador Sarafa Isola’s Abuja House residence, Campden Hill Road, Kensington High Street, was a triumphant and ceremonial operation as people lined the streets waving and cheering in total admiration.
Resumption of duties in the United Kingdom
His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, arrived in the United Kingdom from Nigeria to resume duties on the 3rd of May 2021.
Six months after his arrival to the UK, the 14th High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, on 25th of November 2021, which also coincided with his birthday, was the historic day he presented his Letters of Credence to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11 of England in a colourful ceremony.
In his remarks at the Prince Philip House reception to mark the double bill celebration, Ambassador Isola highlighted some problems facing Nigerians living in the UK and how they can be solved.
H.E Ambassador Isola with his deputy Ambassador Suleiman Sani unveiled a 72-page Mission Charter of the Nigeria High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the United Kingdom. The document is a summarised articulation of the charge of President Muhammadu Buhari for the diplomatic assignment.
Ambassador Isola believes that it is a new dawn fostering the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and that there would not be time for play but to hit the ground running.
There were several accolades from members of the diplomatic corps, other African High Commissioners about the credibility of Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola as the new Nigeria High Commissioner and they all pledged to give him their unflinching support during his tenure.
There were showers of praises from different quarters by meaningful Nigerians living abroad who were equally in high spirits like the new Nigerian Ambassador in the UK, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola.
The head of The Commonwealth Baroness Patricia Scotland, Alistair Harrison Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps, Hon. Kate Osamor MP, Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria in the House of Commons, His Excellency Papa Owusu-Ankomah Ghana High Commissioner, Ambassador Estifanos Ambassador of Eritrea – Dean of African Union Heads of Mission group, His Excellency, Albert Njoteh Fotabong the Ambassador of Cameroon, Ambassador Seth George of Jamaica and representatives from other missions were all in attendance.
Roll call of dignitaries included Carolyn Hall and Phil Hall OBE Vice Patron of Nigeria – Britain Association, Johnson Ememandu Head of Commercial Banking Access Bank UK, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi Founder & Head, Love of Christ Generation Church, Dr Falalu Dahiru Danwata, Dr. Abdullahi Shewu MBE, Abimbola Okoya, Prof. Rotimi Jaiyesimi, Prof. Moshood Baderin, Prince Afolabi Andu, Alhaji Teju Kareem, Dr Chris Agbo, Wendy Olayiwola BEM, Yemi Edun, Dr. Alistair Soyode, Prince Mike Abiola, Michael Eboda, Kevin Obi, Tim Morris, Dr. Nneka Abulokwe, Lizzie Donnely, Victoria Busby OBE, Dr Ado Yusuf and Otunba wasiu Taiwo.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Nigerian community in the UK – Prince Henry Egenti Chairman Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Ayo Akinfe Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), Baroness Jumoke Ariyo Vice Chairman (CANUK), Dr Boma Douglas, Pa Adebayo Oladimeji, Arc. Bolaji Falase among others.
It was indeed a gathering of Diplomats, Members of Parliament, Friends of Nigeria and a showcase of outstanding Nigerians in the UK.
The reception lasted till the early hours of the evening. Music was supplied by DJ Abass while cultural entertainment was by Ayan De – First. The event was anchored by the veteran Master of Ceremony, Charles Khiran.
Additional report by Olakunle Agboola
Photo credit: Michael Tubes
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