WITH a charge to put the interest of the nation first as they depart for their various missions, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved the appointment of 11 ambassador.

The ambassadors, most of who were said to have put nothing less than three decades each to foreign service at various times, are the best of brains capable of competing with their peers in diplomatic circles across the globe.

Represented by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia, who presented letters of commission to the newly-appointed diplomats, including a woman, the president said the ongoing reform of the foreign ministry was aimed at giving priority to merit above other considerations.