Ambassador Uche Joy Ogwu is currently the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Nations. She was a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria (2006 – 2007). A Professor of Political Science and International Relations, she served as the First Female Director-General of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Think-Tank – The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) (2001-2006).
From January 2002, she served as a Member of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, culminating in her appointment as the First African female Chair of the Board from January 2006-July 2007. As a member of the Presidential Advisory Council of Nigeria on International Relations from October 2000-2006, and now as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, she continues to contribute to the advancement of Nigeria’s foreign policy and has written extensively on foreign policy issues.
Among her numerous honours, Professor Ogwu was conferred with an award of OFR – Officer of the Federal Republic; for exemplary contribution to Nigeria. She served as the First President of the First Executive Board of the newly-created entity, UN Women – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. She was appointed by the United Nations Secretary General BAN Ki-moon to serve as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) from 1st January, 2010 to present. On 2nd of January, 2014, she unprecedentedly led Nigeria’s delegation to the UN Security Council for the second successive time. In this phenomenal capacity, she has served as President of the Security Council three times – first in July 2010, October 2011 and April 2014.
Since 2008, she has served as Chair of the Special Committee of Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) and was re-elected for the sixth consecutive time on 17 February, 2015. In 2011, she was elected the First African President of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. Following numerous intensive consultations across the world, she led the 193 Member States of the UN in September 2012 to adopt a landmark consensus Outcome Document. This momentous achievement has been widely acclaimed as a major diplomatic accomplishment for Nigeria, Africa and humanity. She is widowed, with many children and grandchildren.
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