President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of Ambassador Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who passed away at the age of 79.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described her as a “trailblazer who attained the pinnacle of her career through diligence and excellence.”
Ambassador Ogwu, who represented Nigeria at the UN between May 2008 and May 2017, was widely regarded as a respected scholar and accomplished 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.