Ms Samuela ISOPI arrived in Abuja to assume duties as Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on August 31, 2021. She presented her letters of Credence to President Muhammadu Buhari on October 25, 2021. Until her current posting, the Italian diplomat occupied the same position of EU Ambassador at the EU Delegation in Bangui, Central African Republic. She had previously served as Ambassador of Italy to Cameroon, with concurrent accreditation to Central African Republic, Chad and Equatorial Guinea. Previous postings include the Russian Federation, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as Deputy Head of Mission and First Counsellor. 

A career diplomat, Ms Isopi brings to her current posting a swathe of experience gained from 24 years of working with the foreign service of her home country and that of the European Union. In her career, she has worked in some of the most demanding political terrains in far-flung regions of the World, including Southeast and Southern Asia, West and Central Africa as well as Eastern Europe. 

In her capacity as Ambassador of the European Union in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Ms Isopi represents the European Union in its diplomatic engagements and multi-faceted bilateral cooperation with both Nigeria and the regional institution. She regularly engages with government officials, the diplomatic community, multi-lateral organisations and development partners, the civil society, the youth, the business community and the private sector, as well as with the media, to explain the policies, programmes and values of the European Union. 

The new EU Ambassador, who also engaged in Mediation Diplomacy and Support during her career, provides the lead in the regular political dialogue with Nigerian authorities; oversees development cooperation and negotiates trade deals. She works in close coordination with the 19 Member States of the European Union with diplomatic representation in the country. These include Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. 

Ambassador Isopi sees Nigeria, a key player in Africa, in the Region and on the international stage, as a strategic and indispensable partner for the EU. She considers her posting as an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and develop a strategic partnership, based on shared values and common views and objectives on key bilateral and global challenges. She sees Nigeria and the European Union as natural political and economic partners, who should continue to work together for the mutual benefits of Africa and Europe.