President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs and one of the nation’s most distinguished diplomats, Ambassador Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, who died at the age of 79.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the late Ogwu as a “trailblazer who rose to the highest level of her vocation through excellence and hard work.”
Ambassador Ogwu, who served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from May 2008 to May 2017, was celebrated for her outstanding diplomatic skill and unwavering dedication to international peace, disarmament, and women’s advancement.
She was also a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she played a key role in shaping Nigeria’s foreign policy and promoting global engagement through research and dialogue.
During her tenure at the United Nations, Ambassador Ogwu presided over the UN Security Council twice—in July 2010 and October 2011—earning international recognition for her leadership and diplomacy.
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President Tinubu praised her for projecting Nigeria’s voice with “clarity and purpose” and for her lifelong commitment to fostering international cooperation and gender equality.
The President extended his condolences to Ambassador Ogwu’s children, grandchildren, siblings, and the broader diplomatic and academic communities mourning her loss, while praying for her soul to rest in peace.
Ambassador Ogwu’s death marks the end of an illustrious career defined by scholarship, diplomacy, and national service, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of Nigerian women and global diplomats alike.