Photo: The late Prof George Obiozor
Prof George Obiozor, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of América, Israel and Cyprus, as well as President General of Ohanaeze, an Igbo so II-cultural organization, is dead.
Confirming the sad news on Wednesday night Gov Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, described the deceased Igbo leader and elder statesman as a renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, a statesman and a tenacious patriot.
According to him, Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.
He said, “On behalf of the Government and people of Imo State, I, Sen Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, sorrowfully announce the passage of a great Son of Imo State and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide, Prof George OBIOZOR.
“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, a statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.
“The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former NIGERIA’S ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel, is a big loss to Imo State, the South East and the entire Nigeria.
“I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.
Uzodinmma further disclosed that the deceased’s burial arrangements will be announced in due course by the family.
Aged 80, Obiozor, CON, was a Nigerian professor of International Relations and diplomat, who once served as the Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
He was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel and Cyprus from 1999 to 2003 and Ambassador to the United States from 2004 to 2008.
The late Obiozor studied at the Institute of African Studies, and Albert Schweitzer College, graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1969, and bagged a Ph.D. in International Affairs from Columbia University.
