Geoffrey Onyeama

Geoffrey Onyeama
Geoffrey K. J. Onyeama
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
11 November 2015 – 29 May 2023
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byAminu Bashir Wali
Succeeded byYusuf Tuggar
Deputy Director General of WIPO
In office
January 2009 – November 2015
Personal details
Born (1956-02-02) 2 February 1956 (age 68)
Enugu, Eastern Region, British Nigeria (now in Enugu State, Nigeria)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
ParentCharles Onyeama (father)
RelativesDillibe Onyeama (brother)
Alma materColumbia University
St John's College, Cambridge
London School of Economics
Occupation
  • Politician
  • diplomat

Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama // ⓘ (born 2 February 1956[1]) is a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the minister for foreign affairs of Nigeria from November 2015 to May 2023.[2][3][4] He was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.[5]

Early life and education

Onyeama was born to the family of Nigerian jurist Charles Onyeama.[6] His family has links to the Nigerian chieftaincy system; his grandfather, Onyeama of Eke, was a paramount chief in Colonial Igboland.[7]

Onyeama holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in political science from Columbia University in 1977 and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in law from St John's College, Cambridge, in 1980. He holds a Master of Law (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1982 and a Master of Arts (M.A) in Law from St John's College, Cambridge in 1984.[8] Onyeama was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1983 and was also called to the English Bar at Gray's Inn in 1981.[8]

Onyeama speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo at a press conference at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2020.

Career

Onyeama began his career as a research officer in the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Lagos from 1983 to 1984. He then worked as a lawyer with Mogboh and Associates in Enugu, Nigeria from 1984 to 1985. In 1985, he joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as an assistant programme officer for development cooperation and external relations, Bureau for Africa and Western Asia. He rose through the ranks at the WIPO to become deputy director general for the development sector in 2009. In November 2015 he was appointed Nigeria's minister of foreign affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari.[9]

Personal life

Onyeama is married and has three children. His current wife is Sulola, with whom Onyeama has two children. Previously, Onyeama was married to Christian Onoh's daughter, Nuzo Onoh, who is a renowned international author and the first African recipient of the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award, and they have a daughter together, Candice Onyeama, a screenwriter and filmmaker.[10][11]

On 19 July 2020, Onyeama went into medical isolation, after announcing that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[12] In late August 2020, Onyeama recovered from COVID-19 coronavirus disease; and went back to his leadership service as HMFA: Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs at Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[13][14][15]

Author Dillibe Onyeama (1951–2022) was his brother.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Curriculum Vitae of Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Ex-Minister Lauds Buhari's Foreign Policy". Daily Trust. Nigeria. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Geoffrey Onyeama Speaks about Achievements as Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs". Premium Times. Nigeria. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Nigeria will continue to strengthen bilateral ties with South Africa – Onyeama". The Guardian. Nigeria. 30 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ Ekott, Ini (11 November 2015). "UPDATED: Buhari assigns Ministers; Fashola heads Power and Works, Amaechi gets Transportation". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. ^ Banjo, Temi. "Geoffrey Onyeama: 7 Things You Should Know About Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister". Nigerian Monitor. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Famous Families: Meet The Many Onyeamas Of Enugu". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b "CURRICULUM VITAE OF MR. GEOFFREY ONYEAMA" (PDF). Global Intellectual Property Center. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. ^ "The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Norwich Film Festival: Born Again Directed by Candice Onyeama". Norwich Film Festival: United Kingdom. 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Question and Answer With Candice Onyeama Director Screening Short Fiction Born Again". Barnes Film Festival: United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 September 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Nigerian Foreign Minister Onyeama tests positive for coronavirus". 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020 – via af.reuters.com.
  13. ^ "Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama Recovers from Covid-19". The Guardian. Nigeria. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Foreign Minister Onyeama Recovers from COVID-19". Channels Television Nigeria. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama Recovers from COVID-19". Vanguard Nigeria News. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  16. ^ Silas, Don (14 November 2022). "Buhari reacts to death of Onyeama". Daily Post. Retrieved 15 November 2022.