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Joy Ogwu

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"Ogwu" redirects here. For the festival in Nigeria, see Ogwu Ekpeye.

Joy Ogwu
Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations
In office
7 May 2008 – May 2017
Succeeded byTijjani Muhammad-Bande
Foreign Minister of Nigeria
In office
30 August 2006 – 29 May 2007
PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo
Preceded byNgozi Okonjo-Iweala
Succeeded byOjo Maduekwe
Personal details
BornJoy Uche Angela Ogwu
(1946-08-22)22 August 1946
Nigeria Protectorate
Died13 October 2025(2025-10-13) (aged 79)
New York, U.S.
Rutgers University
University of Lagos

Joy Uche Angela Ogwu Listenⓘ (22 August 1946 – 13 October 2025) was a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as foreign minister and as permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (2008–2017).[1][2]

Ogwu was the first woman to hold the post of permanent representative to the United Nations from Nigeria.[3] Prior to her ministerial career, she served as director–general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).[4]

She advised the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on disarmament issues and published books promoting more African ties to Latin America.[5] She was a chair of the board of trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).[5]

Ogwu was appointed foreign minister by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on 30 August 2006.[5]

In 2008, Ogwu became the permanent representative of Nigeria to the UN in New York City.[6] She was the president of the UN Security Council in July 2010 and in October 2011.[7] She was the president of the executive board of the UN Women Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.[8]

She obtained her BA and MA in political science from Rutgers University.[9] She later received her Ph.D. from the University of Lagos in Nigeria.[9] While obtaining her Ph.D. in 1977, she joined the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Lagos.[8]

Ogwu started her career as an assistant lecturer, at the Nigerian National War College[8] and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).[4] She subsequently joined the NIIA as a lecturer, obtaining a research fellowship during which she authored her first book, Nigerian Foreign Policy: Alternative Futures (Macmillan, 1986).[10][11]

She eventually headed the research department in International Politics, leading to her role as the first female director general.[12] Ogwu additionally focused on the developing countries of Latin America, enabling an investigation into the possibilities of a proficient South-South relationship between Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.[13] She held a visiting fellowship at the University of London's Institute of Latin American Studies and was published extensively in Portuguese, Spanish, French and Croatian.[14][15] She served on the United Nations Secretary General's advisory board on Disarmament Matters.[16]

She became a voice for women's development and human rights.[17] Her perspective spanned Asia Pacific, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.[13]

Ogwu died at a hospital in New York, on 13 October 2025, at the age of 79.[18]

Published books

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  • Nigerian Foreign Policy: Alternative Futures, published by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in co-operation with Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, 1986[19]
  • Africa and Latin America: Perspectives and Challenges[citation needed]
  • New Horizons for Nigeria in World Affairs, 2005[20]
  • Leadership, Democracy, and the Challenges of Development, 2017[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Home". Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, New York. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  2. ^ "New Permanent Representative of Nigeria Presents Credentials". UN. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Joy Ogwu:Ambassador Series Lecture". Adelphi University. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Joy Ogwu, Bolaji Akinyemi: Where are they now?". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Joy Ogwu: Quintessential Diplomat". The Pointer News Online. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  6. ^ "NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NIGERIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS". UN. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Security Council Releases". UN. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Joy Ogwu: Enviable envoy with enriching scholarship". National Light. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Directory of Full Professors in the Nigerian University System " (PDF). global.adelphi.edu. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  10. ^ Ogwu, U. Joy (1986). "Nigerian foreign policy: alternative futures". National library of Australia.
  11. ^ https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/1744380
  12. ^ Amos, Kobor (25 October 2025). "Reminiscing Prof Joy Ogwu's life of impact, mentoring". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  13. ^ a b Anthony (7 November 2025). "Farewell to Nigeria's pioneering female scholar-diplomat, Joy Ogwu". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  14. ^ Ige, Olugbenga (18 October 2025). "Prof Joy Ogwu: A life of service, scholarship and grace". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  15. ^ staffauthor (11 November 2010). "Her Excellency U. Joy Ogwu". Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  16. ^ Omoboye, Faith (14 October 2025). "Joy Ogwu, Nigeria's first female UN ambassador, global peace advocate, dies at 79". Businessday NG. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  17. ^ "Joy Ogwu, Laraba Gambo Abdullahi: Where are they now?". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Joy Ogwu, Dies At 79". TVC News. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  19. ^ Joy Ogwu, U. (1986). Nigerian Foreign Policy: Alternative Futures. Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. ISBN 9781328126.
  20. ^ Ogwu, U. Joy (2005). New horizons for Nigeria in world affairs. Victoria Island, Lagos: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. ISBN 978-978-002-056-9. OCLC 70810530.
  21. ^ Ogwu, U. Joy (2002). The African Union and the challenge of development in the 21st century. [Ilorin, Nigeria]: [Ahnour International].
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