We are reminded of the women who have dedicated their time, vigour and advocacy to the passion of diplomacy and public affairs.
A space in which they are still a minority with just little over 20% of diplomatic reps being female – we respect the efforts of those who have devoted time to contribute to the key decision-making positions that greatly shape and implement multilateral agendas.
Between 1992 and 2019, women in diplomacy represented 13% of negotiators, 6% of mediators and 6% of signatories in peace processes worldwide. Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls will also make a crucial contribution to progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets.
For centuries, women have played a critical role in diplomacy, yet their contributions were often overlooked. Women’s influence in the field of international relations is growing in recognition.
Some of the women who have inspired and shaped my understanding of women in diplomacy are :
Catherine Obianuju Acholonu
A Nigerian author, researcher and political activist.[1] She served as the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Arts and Culture and was a founder-member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
Uzoma Emenike
A Nigerian politician, writer and diplomat.[1] She serves as the current Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America. She is the first female Nigerian Ambassador to United States since a diplomatic relationship was established between both countries.
She is the author of Africa: The Centre-Piece of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy.
Justina Eze
A Nigerian diplomat and politician who was the member of the House of Representative for Uzo Uwani during Nigeria’s Second Republic.
former Nigerian ambassador to Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde and a former Presidential Liaison Officer[2] to the House of Representatives
She was the first woman[3] from the Eastern Region, Nigeria to get into the House of Representatives in 1979. She joined Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Jim Nwobodo to build the National peoples party (NPP) and was one of the three women that made it to the Federal House of Representatives in 1979. She is also one of the founding mothers of People Democratic Party(Nigeria).
Joy Uche Angela Ogwu
Former foreign minister of Nigeria and a former permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York from 2008–2017.[1][2] She is the first woman to hold the post of Permanent Representative to the United Nations from Nigeria.
She is former chair of the board of trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Ogwu was the President of the UN Security Council in July 2010 and in October 2011.[7] She is the former president of the executive board of the UN Women Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
Bianca Ojukwu
a Nigerian politician, diplomat, lawyer,Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by President Goodluck Jonathan;[4] in 2012 she became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana[5] and later Ambassador to the Kingdom Of Spain and currently Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
a Nigerian economist,[3][4][5][6] who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021.from June to August 2006, she served as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club that led to the wiping out of US$30 billion of Nigeria’s debt, including the outright cancellation of US$18 billion
NneNne Iwuji-Eme
A British diplomat and the first black woman to represent the United Kingdom as a high commissioner.
In 2002, she moved to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as Head of Africa, Middle East and Transition Economies in its Economic Policy Department.[1] Prior to her appointment to her current post as High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Mozambique she was the UK’s First Secretary in Brazil
Amal Clooney
