Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, has passed away at the age of 79. Family sources confirmed the death, stating she died in the early hours of Monday at a hospital in New York, United States, with her daughter by her side.
Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu was a highly renowned scholar and diplomat whose influential career spanned four decades, encompassing academia, policy research, and high-level international diplomacy.
Her diplomatic highlights include serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from August 2006 to May 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Following this, in 2008, she was appointed as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position she held until 2017. In this role, she made history as the first Nigerian woman to occupy the prestigious office, placing her at the forefront of shaping Nigeria’s engagement with the international community, including two stints as the President of the UN Security Council.
Before her ministerial appointment, Prof. Ogwu served as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she earned global recognition for her expertise in international relations, disarmament, and Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Beyond her official roles, Prof. Ogwu was a dedicated advocate for women’s empowerment, human rights, and education. Her commitment extended to serving on the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and contributing to UNESCO-funded programs focused on promoting human rights education in Nigerian schools.
