Diplomats and staff of the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, US gathered on Sunday to celebrate Nigeria’s first female ambassador to the US Uzoma Emenike on completion of her tour of duty.
Emenike assumed duty on May 17, 2021, and concluded her tour of duty on October 31, in compliance with Federal Government’s directive.
She is Nigeria’s 15th ambassador to the US after 14 male ambassadors had served since October 1, 1960.
At a reception organised in her honour at the Embassy of Nigeria, the staff testified that her tenure brought reforms.
The anchor of the reception, who is also minister of trade, investment and multilateral section, Aisha Dewa, described Emenike as a great woman, leader and unifier.
The embassy’s staff lauded Emenike’s leadership qualities, excellent relationship, charming characteristics, and success in strengthening the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the US.
Mobolaji Ogundero, Charge D’Affairs ai (CDA ai) shared her experience working with Emenike as the deputy head of mission, describing her as a sister.
“When the minister told me I have been posted to work with her, I said, she is a woman, and the minister told me, that she is your sister. Honestly, I met it that way and I give everything to her,” she said.
Buhari returns to Nigeria after birthday celebration in US
Emenike joined Nigeria’s foreign service 33 years ago and served in the protocol department and Africa department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Subsequently, she was posted to the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire in 1992, where she served for six years.
Upon her return to headquarters in Nigeria, 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.
In 2002, Emenike left the foreign service for the private sector where, among others, she worked as a management consultant.
Emenike was brought back to serve her country when former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed her as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ireland with concurrent accreditation to Iceland in 2017.
