Nigeria has lost a trailblazer – Tinubu mourns as Fmr. Foreign Minister Joy Ogwu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the passing of former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s ex-Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, who died at the age of 79.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Wednesday

The statement reads: “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 extolled the late Ambassador for projecting Nigeria’s voice with clarity and purpose on the global stage, noting that she worked tirelessly for global peace, disarmament, international security, and the advancement of women’s rights.

The President described her as a patriot and a scholar who represented the nation with uncommon excellence and left indelible marks in both the diplomatic and academic worlds.

He further extended heartfelt condolences to Ambassador Ogwu’s five children, grandchildren, siblings, and the entire Ogwu family, as well as to the diplomatic and academic communities deeply affected by her death.

“Nigeria has lost a trailblazer who rose to the highest level of her vocation through rare excellence and hard work,” the President was quoted as saying.