Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has arrived in Doha to officially assume duty as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar.

Yakubu was received at Hamad International Airport by senior Qatari officials, members of the African diplomatic corps, and representatives of Nigerian organisations in Qatar.

He was welcomed by the Director of the Protocol Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Abdullah Fakhro, alongside a delegation of 13 African ambassadors resident in Doha.

The reception also included the Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Dr. Philip Mshelbila, and the President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Qatar, Mr. Michael Ihekwaba.

The African diplomatic delegation was led by Ambassador Thierno Sow of Guinea, who also serves as President of the Bureau of the African Group of Ambassadors in Qatar.

Yakubu was introduced to diplomats from several countries including Guinea, Algeria, Burundi, Morocco, Tanzania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Benin, and the Central African Republic.

Following his arrival, the former INEC chairman also met with staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Doha.

Yakubu brings extensive experience in public administration, academia, and electoral management to his new diplomatic assignment.

He served as INEC chairman from November 2015 to October 2025, overseeing Nigeria’s 2019 and 2023 general elections, as well as multiple off-cycle governorship polls.

Before his tenure at INEC, he was Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), where he led key reforms in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

As ambassador, he is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Qatar, particularly in energy cooperation, trade, investment, and diaspora engagement.