Geoffrey Onyeama

Geoffrey Onyeama
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
November 2015
Preceded by Aminu Bashir Wali
Deputy Director General: WIPO
In office
January 2009  November 2015
Personal details
Born (1956-02-02) February 2, 1956
Alma mater University of Cambridge
London School of Economics
Columbia University

Geoffrey Onyeama (born February 2, 1956) is Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs appointed to the position in November 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.[1]

Early life and education

Onyeama was born on February 2 1956 to the family of Nigerian jurist Charles Onyeama.[2] He holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Political Science from Columbia University, New York in 1977 and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Law from Cambridge University in 1980. He holds a Masters of Law (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1982 and a Masters of Arts (M.A) in Law from Cambridge University in 1984.[3] Onyeama was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1983 and was also called to the English Bar of the Grey's Inn in 1981.[3]

Career

Onyeama began his career as a Research Officer in the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Lagos from 1983 to 1984. He then worked as a lawyer with Mogboh and Associates in Enugu, Nigeria from 1984 to 1985. In 1985, he joined the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) as an Assistant Programme Officer for Development Cooperation and External Relations, Bureau for Africa and Western Asia. He rose through the ranks at the WIPO to become Deputy Director General for the Development Sector in 2009. In November 2015 he was appointed Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari.[4]

Personal Life

Geoffrey Onyeama is married, and has three children.

References

  1. Ekott, Ini. "UPDATED: Buhari assigns Ministers; Fashola heads Power and Works, Amaechi gets Transportation". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. "Geoffrey Onyeama: 7 Things You Should Know About Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister". Nigerian Monitor. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 "CURRICULUM VITAE OF MR. GEOFFREY ONYEAMA" (PDF). Global Intellectual Property Center. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  4. "The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. Retrieved 30 January 2016.


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