President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, at 79.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President described the late diplomat as a “trailblazer who rose to the highest level of her vocation through excellence and hard work.”
Ambassador Ogwu, who served as Nigeria’s envoy to the United Nations from May 2008 to May 2017, was a distinguished scholar and seasoned diplomat.
She also served as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) where she played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s foreign policy and advancing international relations scholarship.
A two-time President of the UN Security Council—first in July 2010 and later in October 2011—Ambassador Ogwu was widely respected for her clarity of purpose, advocacy for disarmament, and commitment to global peace, international security, and the advancement of women’s rights.
President Tinubu praised her legacy of service and dedication, noting that she “projected Nigeria’s voice with clarity and purpose and worked tirelessly for the good of humanity.”
The President extended his condolences to Ambassador Ogwu’s family, including her five children, grandchildren, siblings, as well as members of the diplomatic and academic communities mourning her loss.
He prayed for the repose of her soul and for divine comfort for all who grieve the passing of the accomplished diplomat.
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