Director General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, has died.
His death was announced in a tribute by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.
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The President, according to a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, sent a message of condolence to his family.
Buhari described Osakwe as a cerebral diplomat, scholar and administrator.
He added that the passing of Osakwe has created a gulf in the agency which he served as pioneer Director-General after its creation in 2017.
Buhari commiserated with all friends, relations and professional associates of the deceased, who served the country for many years as Foreign Service Officer, before joining the Word Trade Organisation, and later returned to the country as a trade adviser to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, before his appointment as Director-General of NOTN.
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The President said Osakwe’s patriotism would be sorely missed, especially the frontline and historical role of chairing the negotiating forum of the African Union (AU) from June 2017 to March 2018, during which time the negotiations were concluded on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
