His Excellency, Ambassador Mfawa Omini Abam was born on 25th April, 1964 in Ugep, Cross River State, Nigeria. After his basic education, Ambassador Abam attended and graduated from the University of Calabar with a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in French and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration. He further acquired a professional Diplome D’ Etudes Franchises of the L ‘Universite De Darkar, Senegal in 1986. Ambassador Abam started his diplomatic career in 1993 as a Third Secretary at the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy, Lagos, and has had a consistent career spanning over twenty eight (28) years.
Prior to his current appointment as the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Italian Republic, Ambassador Abam has held strategic positions in the course of his career, including: Protocol Liaison Officer in the Office of the Chief of General Staff (the Vice President), 1996-1998; Third Secretary, Embassy of Nigeria, Cotonou, Republic of Benin (On Attachment), 1998-2000; Personal Assistant to the Special Presidential Envoy on Conflict Resolutions and ECOWAS Special Representative on Côte d’Ivoire and the Mano River Union, 2000-2003; Counselor/Head of Chancery, Embassy of Nigeria, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2003-2007; Chief Protocol Officer to the wife of the Vice President, 2007 – 2009; Chief Protocol Officer to the wife of the Acting President, 2009 – 2010; Director of Protocol to the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2010-2015; Assistant Director, First United Nations Division, International Organisations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, 2013; Deputy Director (Appointments, Promotions, Establishment and Discipline Division), 2015 – 2016; Minister/Head of Chancery, Embassy of Nigeria, Washington DC, United States of America 2016-2018; Minister/Head of Political Department, Embassy of Nigeria, Washington DC, United States of America, 2018-2019; Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2019-2020.
Brief highlights of his achievements since his resumption of duty as the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy in May, 2021 included but not limited to the following:
a. Increased frequency of consular visits to Nigerians in prisons and migrant camps;
b. Conducted consular and intervention visits to Nigerians in more than fifteen (15) out of the twenty (20) Regions of Italy;
c. Upgraded Embassy’s Helpdesk to enhance prompt response to enquiries and complaints;
d. Effected stronger and more efficient consular and immigration service delivery at the Embassy;
e. Commenced the publication of Embassy Bulletin publication;
f. Commenced the use of social media handles to improve Embassy’s engagement with the public;
g. Improved relations with the Italian government to defend the interests of Nigerians in Italy;
h. Supported talented young Nigerians with various skill-sets, including in the fashion and entertainment industries; and
i. Provided legal assistance to Nigerians undergoing court trials in Italy.
His Excellency, Ambassador Mfawa Omini Abam is passionate about lawn tennis and other sports and also enjoys reading, travelling and listening to music. He is married to Ifeoma Uzoamaka Abam and they are blessed with three children.
Embassy of Nigeria
Rome, Italy
November, 2022