Joy Ogwu, ex-minister and diplomat, dies at 79

Joy Angela Ogwu, the former minister of foreign affairs and permanent representative to the United Nations, has died at the age of 79.

Ogwu, who represented Nigeria at the United Nations from May 2008 to May 2017, was a respected diplomat and scholar whose career spanned academia, diplomacy, and public service.

She served twice as president of the UN security council, first in July 2010 and again in October 2011, where she worked for global peace, disarmament, and international cooperation.

Before her diplomatic posting to the UN, Ogwu served as director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she made notable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s foreign policy and the study of international relations.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, described her passing as a great loss to the nation.

“Nigeria has lost a trailblazer who rose to the highest level of her vocation through excellence and hard work,” Tinubu said.

He paid tribute to Ogwu’s career, commending her for “projecting Nigeria’s voice with clarity and purpose and working tirelessly for global peace, disarmament, international security, and the advancement of women’s rights”.

The president also extended condolences to her family, including her five children, grandchildren, and siblings, as well as to the diplomatic and academic communities.