Uzoma Emenike Raises the Bar as Nigeria’s First Female Ambassador to the United States

Uzoma Emenike Raises the Bar as Nigeria’s First Female Ambassador to the United States

Uzoma Emenike recently recorded a historic feat on her appointed by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, as Nigeria’s first female Ambassador to the United States, redefining the landscape for other Nigerian female diplomats. Uzoma succeeds the late Sylvanus Nsofor, former ambassador to the US. On her role, she will deepen bilateral relations and trade between the US and Nigeria. 

This appointment comes six months after the senate’s confirmation on the list of ambassadors-designate submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari. The confirmed list included a total of 52 non-career and 43 career Ambassadors including the reappointment of 11 current ambassadors at the time, with eight retaining their places of appointment and three, redeployed. Uzoma Emenike, however, shines among the 11 reappointed ambassadors. Others include Mohammed Rimi, United Arab Emirate; Jidda Baba, China; Gani Bura, Lebanon; Yusuf Tuggar, Germany, Baba Madugu, Switzerland; Deborah Illiya, Congo; Tijani Muhammad-Bande, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York and Adeyinka Asekun, High Commissioner to Canada.

Read Also: Ade Adefeko Sets Record as Botswana’s First-ever Honorary Consul to Nigeria

Until her recent appointment, Uzoma was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland, with concurrent accreditation to Iceland. Her diplomatic career was brought into the limelight in 2016 when President Buhari sent her name, alongside 45 others, to the Senate for confirmation as non-career ambassador. Shortly after, she arrived in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, on 30^th of August 2017 to assume duty. Over the course of her career, Uzoma discharged commendable public services, carrying out duty with utmost excellence.

Until her appointment, the Nigerian embassy in the US has been headed by men since its operation from the 1^st October 1960, according to the office of the chief protocol, US Department of State. 

Uzoma’s educational background includes two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s and a Doctorate. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Maiduguri, and an LL.B. from the University of Reading, UK. The diplomat also obtained a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and another master’s degree in International Management from the University of Reading. She further holds a PhD in International Relations, also from the University of Reading, UK.

Uzoma’s experience in foreign affairs spans over 30 years. According to her biography on the website of the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, the 55-year-old has served in Protocol Department and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Afterwards, she was posted to the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire in 1992, where she served diligently for six years.

Upon her return to the headquarters in Nigeria, the diplomat was variously deployed to other departments of the Ministry, during which she represented Nigeria in various bilateral and multilateral missions, both within the country and abroad.

Asides her career in foreign diplomacy, Uzoma Emenike is a writer with several published articles including ‘The Africa we Envisage in 50 Years’ Time’ and ‘Europe Needs Africa’. She also wrote a book on Nigerian diplomacy, entitled, ‘Africa: The Centre-Piece of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in 2015.