Nigeria has lost a pioneering diplomat and scholar, Prof. Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, who passed away at 79 in New York. Family sources told the Nigeria Television Authority that she died in the early hours of Monday at a hospital, with her daughter at her side.

Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu built a remarkable career spanning academia, research, and international diplomacy. She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo and later made history as the country’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a role she held from 2008 to 2017.

Before entering government service, Prof. Ogwu led the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) as Director-General, gaining wide acclaim for her work in foreign policy, disarmament, and international relations. Her contributions left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s diplomatic landscape and global representation.