An Abridged Profile of the New Türkiye Ambassador to Nigeria

H.E. Mehmet Poroy, born on January 11, 1967 in Üsküdar, İstanbul, is a seasoned Turkish diplomat with more than three decades of distinguished service in foreign affairs. He is married and blessed with two children. Ambassador Poroy is fluent in French and English.

He earned his degree in International Relations from the Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University, in 1990, after which he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a career diplomat.

Over the years, Ambassador Poroy has held several strategic positions across Europe, North Africa, and multilateral institutions. His career includes postings in Rome, Brussels, Skopje, and at the Permanent Representation of Türkiye to NATO, where he advanced through diplomatic ranks from Attaché to Counsellor.

He later served as MFA Head of the Maritime Department and Deputy Director at the Directorate General of Maritime, Aviation and Border Affairs. He also served as Consul General in Brussels before being appointed Turkish Ambassador to Algeria (2015–2020).

Between 2020 and 2025, he was Advisor Ambassador to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. In 2025, he was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Nigeria and assumed office in Abuja.

Ambassador Poroy brings to Nigeria extensive experience in diplomacy, security cooperation, trade facilitation, and intercultural engagement.

Career Timeline

• 2025 – Present: Turkish Embassy in Abuja – Ambassador

• 2020 – 2025: Grand National Assembly of Türkiye – Advisor Ambassador

• 2015 – 2020: Turkish Embassy in Algeria – Ambassador

• 2012 – 2015: MFA, Directorate General of Maritime, Aviation & Border Affairs – Deputy Director

• 2008 – 2012: Turkish Consulate-General, Brussels – Consul General

• 2006 – 2008: MFA, Maritime Department – Head of Department

• 2004 – 2006: Turkish Embassy, Lefkoşa – Counsellor

• 2000 – 2004: Permanent Representation to NATO – First Secretary / Counsellor

• 1998 – 2000: MFA Personnel Department – First Secretary

• 1998: Turkish Embassy, Rome – Second Secretary

• 1995 – 1998: Turkish Embassy, Brussels – Third/Second Secretary

• 1993 – 1995: Turkish Embassy, Skopje – Attaché / Third Secretary

• 1990 – 1993: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Candidate Career Diplomat

Message from H.E. Ambassador Mehmet Poroy

Dear Citizens, Esteemed Nigerian Friends,

I assumed my duties as the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on April 26, 2025. Throughout my tenure, within the framework of our Africa Partnership Policy, I will work diligently together with the Embassy staff to further enhance the relations between our country and Nigeria, one of Africa’s leading nations, in every field.

First and foremost, we will strive to ensure the advancement of our bilateral relations at all levels, which gained momentum with the visit of our President to Abuja in 2021. Bilateral contacts will provide an opportunity for Nigeria and Türkiye—both regional powers and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and D-8 from different geographies—to exchange views on bilateral, regional, and international issues.

Another priority will be increasing the bilateral trade volume, which does not yet reflect the true potential of our relations. In this context, we will stay in close contact with our companies and businesspeople already operating in Nigeria to find concrete solutions to their challenges, while also guiding potential investors to the right sectors in cooperation with our Trade Counsellor.

Our existing bilateral relations in the fields of security and defense industry—closely followed by our Military Attaché and Interior Counsellor at the Embassy—will also be among the primary topics to be addressed with Nigerian authorities. Türkiye’s knowledge, experience, and technological capacity in these areas are well-suited to meet Nigeria’s needs.

We will also address the visa issue, which is occasionally a matter of mutual concern, and work to facilitate travel—within the scope of our current visa regulations—for Nigerian businesspeople, members of the academic and cultural communities, and journalists who can contribute to bilateral relations. Similarly, we will address any challenges that our businesspeople may face during their visits to Nigeria with the relevant authorities.

We will also give importance to engaging with local authorities by visiting Nigerian states outside the capital region as much as possible. We will support humanitarian aid activities carried out by our Religious Affairs Counsellor and non-governmental organizations in various states.

In the cultural field, our Embassy will continue to provide all necessary support for further enhancing the successful activities of the Yunus Emre Institute in Abuja, with the aim of promoting the rich and vibrant cultures of both countries.

Our Consular Section will continue to provide all possible support to our citizens living and working in this distant geography, expediting their procedures to the extent allowed by legislation. Our doors are always open to our businesspeople and citizens.

I would like to once again emphasize that my spouse and I will do our utmost to represent our country in Nigeria—one of Africa’s largest countries in terms of economy and population—with dedication and diligence. Together with all Embassy staff, I extend my warmest regards and respect to our citizens in Nigeria and our Nigerian friends.

Mehmet Poroy,
Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye

Edited by Abdulfattah Abdussalam 

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