Mr. Ade Adefeko has announced his resignation as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Botswana in Lagos, Nigeria.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Adefeko on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The resignation, which took effect in December 2025, was formally accepted by the Botswana Ministry of International Relations.
What Ade Adefeko is saying
According to the statement, Mr. Adefeko submitted his resignation on November 26, 2025, citing “increasingly demanding professional commitments” that made it difficult to dedicate the required time and attention to consular responsibilities.
He explained that the decision was taken to maintain the standards of service expected of the office, given the growing demands of his professional engagements.
“Mr Ade Adefeko has concluded his tenure as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Botswana in Lagos, Nigeria, following the acceptance of his resignation by the Botswana Ministry of International Relations.
“The resignation, submitted on November 26, 2025, became effective in December 2025,” the statement read in part.
The resignation was subsequently formalised through an official Letter of Termination issued by Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, Dr. Phenyo Butale, on December 24, 2025, in line with Article 25 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The letter acknowledged the resignation dated November 26, 2025, and confirmed that it became effective in December 2025.
Adefeko’s contributions and legacy as honorary consul
During his tenure from 2020 to 2025, Mr. Adefeko facilitated consular services and worked to strengthen bilateral relations between Botswana and Nigeria. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, describing it as an honour to contribute to the partnership between the two countries, and extended appreciation to President Duma Boko and Botswana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Adefeko also indicated his willingness to ensure a smooth transition to his successor. The Republic of Botswana has not yet announced who will assume the role of Honorary Consul in Lagos.
What this means
Mr. Adefeko’s resignation creates a temporary vacancy in Botswana’s honorary consular representation in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre and a key hub for trade and private-sector engagement.
While the role is part-time, the honorary consul serves as an important link for consular assistance, business facilitation, and cultural relations in the absence of a full diplomatic mission in the city.
The development also marks the close of a five-year tenure during which Botswana–Nigeria ties were supported through consular and diplomatic engagement.
Until a successor is appointed, certain liaison and facilitation functions in Lagos may rely more heavily on Botswana’s High Commission in Abuja.
What you should know
The resignation of Mr. Ade Adefeko occurs amid ongoing diplomatic activity in Nigeria. Recently, the Senate confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees, including 34 career and 30 non-career ambassadors, following a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The confirmations, which followed President Bola Tinubu’s request in December 2025, include notable figures such as former governors, senators, and retired military officers. These appointments signal Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its diplomatic representation abroad and project the country’s image internationally.
Nairametrics previously reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said in 2024 that the country did not appoint a new set of ambassadors to its missions that year due to a lack of funds, making the current confirmations significant.
Although part-time or voluntary, honorary consuls like Mr. Adefeko support ambassadors by facilitating trade, cultural exchange, and consular services in key hubs like Lagos.
