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Nigeria has lost one of its most distinguished diplomats and public servants. Professor Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has died at the age of 79.
According to family sources, Prof. Ogwu passed away in the early hours of Monday, October 13, at a hospital in New York, United States, with her daughter by her side.
Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu broke multiple glass ceilings throughout her lifetime. She made history in 2008 as the first woman to serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a role she held with distinction until 2017. Before that, she served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from August 2006 to May 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
A respected scholar and thought leader, Prof. Ogwu began her career in academia. She was a lecturer and researcher before becoming the first female Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s foreign policy and global diplomacy.
Prof. Ogwu earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science from Rutgers University, New Jersey, and completed her Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Lagos in 1977. Her expertise in disarmament, international relations, and South-South cooperation—especially between Africa and Latin America—established her as a leading voice in foreign affairs.
During her time at the United Nations, she presided over the UN Security Council twice, in July 2010 and October 2011, and served as President of the Executive Board of UN Women. She also chaired the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
Professor Joy Ogwu’s legacy is one of service, scholarship, and diplomacy at the highest levels. She paved the way for women in international leadership and served her country with unmatched dedication.
May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
