Nigeria’s Ambassador To Ghana, Barde, Assumes Duty

Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde has officially arrived in Accra to assume duty as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana, marking a new chapter in diplomatic relations between the two West African nations.

The veteran diplomat was warmly received upon arrival by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, members of the Defence Section, senior mission staff, representatives of the Nigerian community, and other stakeholders who gathered to welcome him to his new posting.

Speaking during the reception in Accra, members of the Nigerian community expressed excitement over the arrival of the new High Commissioner, describing his appointment as a positive development for Nigerians living in Ghana and for the strengthening of bilateral relations between both countries.

“We are delighted to receive Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde in Ghana. His wealth of experience and distinguished record in diplomacy will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana,” one community leader said.

Ambassador Barde arrives in Ghana with more than three decades of experience in public service and diplomacy, having served Nigeria in various capacities at home and abroad.

Born on 29 October 1967, in Katsina, Katsina State, Ambassador Barde attended Kayalwa Primary School, Katsina, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1979. He later attended Government College, Zaria, earning his General Certificate of Education (GCE) in 1984.

He proceeded to the College of Advanced Studies (CAS), Zaria, for the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) programme before gaining admission to Bayero University, Kano, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 1990.

To further strengthen his professional credentials, he attended the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy in Lagos in 1996. Subsequently, he participated in several career advancement, language and management training programmes within Nigeria and abroad.

Ambassador Barde began his public service career in 1991 at the National Boundary Commission under the Presidency, where he participated in diplomatic engagements involving Nigeria’s neighbouring countries. He later joined the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1995, beginning a distinguished diplomatic career spanning over 30 years.

Throughout his service, he has held diplomatic postings in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Washington, D.C., United States; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Paris, France. He has also represented Nigeria at numerous bilateral and multilateral conferences, including Joint Border Workshops with the Niger Republic, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the African Union, and the United Nations.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Ambassador Barde served in several departments and undertook various special assignments. He was also deployed at different times to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

His record of national service extends beyond diplomacy. He has served as a member of the Board of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria International Partnership and Economic Investment Forum (NIPEF), and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF).

In recognition of his dedication and outstanding service, Ambassador Barde was appointed Ambassador In-Situ in 2022 and received a Presidential Commendation in 2023.

Diplomatic observers believe that his extensive experience in regional and international affairs will further strengthen Nigeria-Ghana relations and advance cooperation in trade, security, investment, education and cultural exchange.

As he begins his tenure in Accra, expectations are high that Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde will build on the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and Ghana while promoting the interests of Nigerians living in the country.