Nigeria’s newly appointed Ambassador to Sweden, Ambassador Lola Akande, has formally assumed her diplomatic responsibilities after presenting her Letters of Credence to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Royal Palace in Sweden, marked the official recognition of Akande as Nigeria’s accredited representative to the Kingdom of Sweden.
The presentation was conducted in line with Sweden’s established diplomatic traditions, with Akande receiving ceremonial honours before proceeding to the Royal Palace for the formal presentation of her credentials to the Swedish monarch.
The ceremony signalled the beginning of her official diplomatic engagement in Sweden and provided an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and the Scandinavian country.
A reception was subsequently held in Akande’s honour at the Nigerian House in Stockholm, bringing together representatives of the diplomatic community, government officials, business leaders and members of the Nigerian community in Sweden.
Among those in attendance were ambassadors and members of the African diplomatic corps, officials from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, members of the Corps of African Women Ambassadors, Nigerians living in Sweden, Swedish nationals and representatives of the Swedish business community.
The gathering also provided a platform to highlight opportunities for further strengthening relations between Nigeria and Sweden, particularly in trade and investment, innovation, cultural exchange and people-to-people engagement.
Akande’s formal accreditation is expected to provide fresh impetus to bilateral engagement between both countries, while deepening interaction with Nigerian citizens, Swedish institutions, businesses and other stakeholders.
Her assumption of office comes as Nigeria and Sweden continue to explore areas of mutual interest and opportunities for expanded cooperation.
