Tinubu Mourns Former Foreign Minister, Joy Ogwu

President Bola Tinubu has learned with profound sadness that Ambassador Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, who was 79, has passed away. A former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Ogwu represented Nigeria at the United Nations from May 2008 to May 2017. A skilled diplomat and scholar, she served as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she made invaluable contributions to developing Nigeria’s foreign policy and international relations scholarship. With inspiring dedication and skill, she presided over the UN Security Council twice, first in July 2010 and again in October 2011. President Tinubu extols the late Ambassador for projecting Nigeria’s voice with clarity and purpose and working tirelessly for global peace, disarmament, international security, and the advancement of women’s rights. The President extends his heartfelt condolences to Ambassador Ogwu’s five children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers, the entire Ogwu family, and the diplomatic and academic community, mourning the passing of the distinguished diplomat. ”Nigeria has lost a trailblazer who rose to the highest level of her vocation through excellence and hard work,” he says. President Tinubu prayed for the repose of her soul and for divine comfort for all who mourn the diplomat.

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Prof. Joy Ogwu, Former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Dies At 79

Nigeria mourns the passing of Prof. Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, a distinguished diplomat and scholar, who died at 79 in New York. Family sources told the Nigeria Television Authority that she passed away in the early hours of Monday at a hospital, with her daughter present. Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu had a long and impactful career in academia, research, and diplomacy. She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo and later became the country’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations, serving from 2008 to 2017. Prior to her government roles, she led the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) as Director-General, earning recognition for her expertise in international relations, disarmament, and Nigeria’s foreign policy. Her legacy has left a lasting mark on the nation’s diplomatic efforts and global presence.  

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