A former Minister of Foreign Affairs and distinguished diplomat, Professor Joy Ogwu, is dead.
She was aged 79.
Family sources confirmed that Ogwu passed away Monday morning at a hospital in New York, United States, with her daughter by her side.
She was reported to have succumbed to a cancer-related illness.
Ogwu was widely respected for her service as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and for her leadership as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
In his reaction, Ambassador Usman Sarki, former Nigerian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations who served under her in New York, expressed deep sorrow.
“Today, we received the sad news of the passing of former Permanent Representative, Professor Joy Ogwu.
“It is very sad. She was a fine woman who represented Nigeria to the best of her ability under very difficult circumstances.
“It is very sad and very unfortunate,” he said.
Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Ogwu made history as the first woman to serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position she held from 2008 to 2017.
She also held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs from August 2006 to May 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Before entering government service, Ogwu was a distinguished academic and foreign policy expert.
She began her career as a lecturer and researcher before becoming the first female Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), shaping Nigeria’s engagement with the global community through her scholarship and leadership.
