The Muhammadu Buhari Administration has appointed Nigeria’s first female ambassador to the united states, Uzoma Emenike. This move is made in line with its commitment of giving positions based on merit.
This past week has proven to be a series of historic marks for females as Kamala Harris was also sworn in as the first-ever African American and Asian American female Vice President of the United States.
This isn’t Emenike’s first rodeo in an ambassadorial position as she was previously Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland and Iceland. During that time she displayed diligence and was ranked amongst the best performing ambassadors
With her recent appointment as the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, she takes over from her predecessor, the late 83-year-old Sylvanus Nsofor.
Being the first female to be in that position has set a new standard, it is said that her appointment has set a pedestal for Nigerian female diplomats.
She is among the 52 non-career and 43 career ambassadors whose deployment was recently approved by President Buhari.
Having joined the Nigeria Foreign Service about 30 years ago, Emenike served in the Protocol Department and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From there, she was posted to the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire in 1992, where she served for six years. On her return to Nigeria, she was deployed to other departments of the Ministry where she served. During this time, she represented Nigeria in numerous bilateral and multilateral missions, locally and internationally.
Emenike is also well learned and holds several qualifications like a PhD in International Diplomacy from the University of Reading, UK, alongside four other degrees: two masters (Diplomacy and MBA), LLB and a Bachelor.
They include a B.Sc, Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, and an LL.B from the University of Reading in the UK, while her Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy was from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She also obtained another Master’s in International Management from University of Reading, UK.
She has certificates in French and Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomacy, Nigerian Diplomatic Service Academy.
Emenike is also an author.
Her published articles include: “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 (2015).”
Her appointment is seen as having potential that would further indulge bilateral relations and trade between the US and Nigeria.
