Dr. Uzoma Ikechi Emenike has been named by President Buhari as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the United States, making her the first female ambassador to hold the position.
Her appointment comes after the death of the former ambassador, Justice Nsofor, who died at age 85 in December 2020. Before her new appointment, she was Nigeria’s ambassador to Ireland with concurrent accreditation to Iceland.
Obiezu Chinyerem will replace her at the embassy in Dublin.
Here are some facts about her.
1. Born in Abia State, Uzoma Emenike is a recipient of two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees, and a doctorate.
2. Her secondary education was at Holy Rosary Secondary School, Umuahia, in Abia State, which she held from 1981 to 1985.
3. She holds a B.Sc. in sociology and anthropology from the University of Maiduguri and an LL.B. from the University of Reading in the UK.
4. She also earned a master’s degree in international law and diplomacy from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and another master’s in international management from the University of Reading before she capped her academic pursuit with a doctorate in international relations, also from the University of Reading.
5. Emenike started her career in foreign affairs over 30 years ago.
6. She first served in the Protocol Department and the Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7. Subsequently, she was posted to the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 1992, where she served for six years.
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8. She was deployed to other departments of the ministry, during which she represented Nigeria in numerous bilateral and multilateral missions, both at home and abroad, upon her return to headquarters in Nigeria.
9. Dr. Emenike left the Foreign Service for the private sector in 2002, where, among others, she worked as a management consultant.
10. She resumed duty as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ireland on August 30, 2017.
11. She is married to Ikechi Emenike, Buhari’s ally, and the union is blessed with four children.