ON THE DEATH OF AMBASSODOR OLUGBENGA AYODEJI ASHIRU MFR, FORMER MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received, with sadness, the news of the transition to greater glory of the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, which occurred last Saturday, 29th November, 2014 at the Muelmed Med-Clinic, Pretoria, South Africa.

Amb. Ashiru was born on the 27th August, 1948 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State of Nigeria. He began his diplomatic career in June of 1972, which saw him on tours of duty to the following:

· First Secretary, Embassy of Nigeria , Tokyo, Japan, 1974-1977

· Senior Counselor, Embassy of Nigeria, Stockholm, Sweden, 1979-1982

· Charge d' affaires, a.i, of Nigeria to Bangui, Central African Republic, 1984-1985

· Minister Plenipotentiary, High Commission of Nigeria to the Court of St. James, London, 1985-1988

His tours of duty as Nigeria's Principal Envoy, included the following:

· Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Pyongyang, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1991-1999.

· High Commissioner extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Pretoria, South Africa, with concurrent accreditation to the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland, 2005-2007.

Amb. Ashiru held watch at Tafawa Balewa House as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2013. During this period, he deployed economic diplomacy as a way and means of lending support to the administration's Transformation Agenda. Under him also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertook the compilation and publication of the Ministry's maiden Annual Report, amongst other milestones.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali MON, mni, the Honourable Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Danjuma N. Sheni, and the entire officers and staff of the Ministry extend their heartfelt condolence to the family and friends of Amb. Ashiru, as well as pray that God Almighty grant him eternal rest.

Public Communication Division
Minisrty of Foreign Affairs
Tafawa Balewa House
Abuja
December 1, 2014