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| The late Prof Ogwu |
Professor Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, a distinguished diplomat and former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has passed away at 79.
Family sources, according to The New Diplomat, an online newspaper, confirmed that Prof. Ogwu died early Monday, October 13, 2025, in a New York hospital, with her daughter by her side.
Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu was a pioneering figure, becoming the first Nigerian woman to serve as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2008 to 2017.
She also held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs from August 2006 to May 2007 during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Her legacy as one of Africa’s most respected diplomats remains enduring.
Before her foray into government service, Ogwu was a renowned academic and foreign policy expert.
She began her career as a lecturer and researcher before rising to become the first female Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she influenced the country’s engagement with the global community.
A product of Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science, Ogwu went on to earn a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Lagos in 1977.
She later joined the NIIA, where she established herself as a leading voice in international relations, with research focusing on Nigeria’s foreign policy, disarmament, and South-South cooperation between Africa and Latin America.
During her diplomatic career, Prof. Ogwu represented Nigeria with distinction at the United Nations, twice presiding over the UN Security Council, in July 2010 and October 2011.
She also served as president of the executive board of UN Women and chaired the board of trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
Beyond her official duties, Ogwu was deeply committed to advancing women’s empowerment, human rights, and education.
She served on the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and was instrumental in UNESCO-funded programmes promoting human rights education in Nigerian schools.
A prolific scholar, she authored several influential works, including Nigerian Foreign Policy: Alternative Futures (1986), and published extensively on issues of global security and diplomacy.
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