Geoffrey Onyeama

Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama (born February 2, 1956) is Nigeria's Minister for Foreign Affairs. Onyeama was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister of Nigeria in November 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.[1]

Geoffrey Onyeama
Geoffrey Onyeama
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
11 November 2015
Appointed byMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byAminu Bashir Wali
Deputy Director General of WIPO
In office
January 2009 – November 2015
Personal details
Born (1956-02-02) February 2, 1956
Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
Alma materColumbia University
St John's College, Cambridge
London School of Economics

Early life and education

Onyeama was born to the family of Nigerian jurist Charles Onyeama.[2] He holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Political Science from Columbia University, New York in 1977 and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Law from St John's College, Cambridge in 1980. He holds a Masters of Law (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1982 and a Masters of Arts (M.A) in Law from St John's College, Cambridge in 1984.[3] Onyeama was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1983 and was also called to the English Bar of the Grey's Inn in 1981.[3]

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.[4]

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 and they had Onyeama's first child and daughter named Candice Onyeama; a screenwriter and filmmaker.[5][6][7]

On 19 July 2020, Onyeama went into medical isolation after announcing that he tested positive for COVID-19.[8] 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.[9][10][11]

See also

References
  1. Ekott, Ini. "UPDATED: Buhari assigns Ministers; Fashola heads Power and Works, Amaechi gets Transportation". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. "Geoffrey Onyeama: 7 Things You Should Know About Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister". Nigerian Monitor. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. "CURRICULUM VITAE OF MR. GEOFFREY ONYEAMA" (PDF). Global Intellectual Property Center. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  4. "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.
  5. "Meet Geoffrey Onyeama and his Beautiful Wife Sulola". Nigeria Opera News. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  6. "Norwich Film Festival: Born Again Directed by Candice Onyeama". Norwach Film Festival: United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  7. "Question and Answer With Candice Onyeama Director Screening Short Fiction Born Again". Barnes Film Festival: United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  8. "Nigerian Foreign Minister Onyeama tests positive for coronavirus". July 19, 2020 – via af.reuters.com.
  9. "Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama Recovers from Covid-19". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  10. "Foreign Minister Onyeama Recovers from COVID-19". Channels Television Nigeria. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. "Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama Recovers from COVID-19". Vanguard Nigeria News. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
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