Femi Fani-Kayode has begun work as Nigeria’s high commissioner to South Africa after presenting copies of his letters of credence to officials on Friday.
Fani-Kayode said he handed the documents to Clayson Monyela, deputy director-general for public diplomacy and acting chief of state protocol at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
The step allows him to take up his diplomatic functions before a separate ceremony at which he will present the original documents to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Channels Television reported that a 28 October DIRCO statement set out a change to the accreditation procedure. Under that arrangement, a head of mission is considered to have taken up the post once copies of the credentials reach the chief of state protocol, rather than waiting for the presidential ceremony.
The former aviation minister had earlier received his credentials for the South Africa posting. Friday’s presentation is a further step in that process.
Fani-Kayode said the ceremony with Ramaphosa would follow in a few days, but did not give a date.
Sources: Punch; Channels Television
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