By Adesina Soyooye
Kayode Are, a retired Army Colonel and a former Director General of State Security Services, now popular as Department of State Services, assumed duties as the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the United States of America, USA.
Ambassador Are assumed duties on Thursday after he presented his Letter of Credence to Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, USA.
The presentation ceremony took place at the White House where there was, also, a guard of honour by the armed forces and officers of the State Department and the staff of the National Security Council.
Are presented his letter of credence alongside eleven other ambassadors who, also, presented their Letters President Trump.
The other Ambassadors include those of South Africa, Chad, Chile, Yemen, Australia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Are was approved as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the USA by President Bola Tinubu in January 2026, after his confirmation by the Senate in December 2025.
A brilliant intelligence security officer, Are was
born in 1955 and built a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in military intelligence and national security administration.
Are was a member of the Regular Combatant Course 12 of the Nigerian Defence Academy where he
graduated among the top 10 cadets. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in December 1974.
Are is a proud holder of a First Class Honours degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan, and was the University’s best student, winning the University Senate Prize, Faculty of Social Sciences Prize, and Department of Psychology Prize.
He is, also, a Master’s Degree holder in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos in 1987.
He was, on retirement appointed Director General of the State Security Service in May 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was removed from the position in August 2007. He had, also, served as Deputy National Security Adviser to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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