Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, Kayode Are, has formally presented his Letter of Credence to U.S. President Donald Trump, officially beginning his diplomatic assignment in Washington.
The ceremony took place at the White House on Thursday, May 21, and featured an honour guard made up of members of the armed forces, officials of the State Department and staff of the National Security Council.
Are was among 12 diplomats who presented their credentials to U.S. president Trump during the event. Representatives from countries including South Africa, Chad, Chile, Yemen, Australia and Kyrgyzstan also participated.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved Are’s appointment in January 2026 after the Senate confirmed his nomination in December 2025.
Born in 1955, Are is a retired Nigerian Army colonel, intelligence officer and former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), now known as the Department of State Services (DSS).
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s experienced intelligence figures, he spent more than three decades in military intelligence and national security administration.
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He began his military career at the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of Regular Combatant Course 12 and graduated among the top 10 cadets before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1974.
Academically, Are earned a First Class Honours degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan in 1980, emerging as the institution’s best graduating student and winning the University Senate Prize, Faculty of Social Sciences Prize and Department of Psychology Prize.
He later obtained a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos in 1987.
During his years in service, Are worked in the Directorate of Military Intelligence and rose to the rank of colonel before retiring compulsorily from the Nigerian Army in 1993.
Following Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, he was appointed Director General of the State Security Service in May 1999 and remained in office until August 2007, making him the agency’s longest-serving chief.
He served under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later held the position of Deputy National Security Adviser, contributing to intelligence coordination and national security management.
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