By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
Nigeria’s diplomatic and academic communities are in mourning following the death of Prof. Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and one of the country’s most accomplished international diplomats.
Prof. Ogwu reportedly passed away in the early hours of Monday at a hospital in New York, United States, at the age of 79. Family sources confirmed that she died overseas where she had been receiving medical care.
A Life of Firsts and Diplomatic Distinction
Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu broke multiple barriers during her lifetime. She was the first Nigerian woman to serve as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position she held from 2008 to 2017, and Minister of Foreign Affairs between August 2006 and May 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Her distinguished career began in academia. She earned her BA and MA in Political Science from Rutgers University, USA, before bagging a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Lagos in 1977. She rose to become Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), cementing her reputation as a brilliant scholar and policy thinker.
Global Impact: Presiding at the UN Security Council
During her tenure as Nigeria’s envoy to the UN, Prof. Ogwu twice presided over the United Nations Security Council, in July 2010 and October 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping global security discussions.
She also served as President of the Executive Board of UN Women, chaired the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), and championed causes ranging from disarmament to gender equity and South–South cooperation.
Scholar, Diplomat, Reformer
Beyond diplomacy, Prof. Ogwu was a prolific author and thinker. Her book “Nigerian Foreign Policy: Alternative Futures” (1986) remains a reference point in foreign policy studies. Her voice carried weight in both classrooms and international conference halls, inspiring generations of diplomats and scholars.
Colleagues recall her as a calm but firm negotiator, a trailblazer for women in diplomacy, and a patriot who carried Nigeria’s voice with dignity and intellectual force.
Reactions and Legacy
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the world. Senior diplomats, academics, and political leaders have described her passing as “a monumental loss to Nigeria and the global diplomatic community.”
She is survived by her children and grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
An Enduring National Figure
Prof. Joy Ogwu’s passing marks the end of a golden era in Nigerian diplomacy. From lecture halls to the corridors of the United Nations, she blazed a trail that few have matched. Her name will remain etched in Nigeria’s diplomatic history as a symbol of excellence, courage, and vision.
