By Emmanuel Nduka
George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has died at age 80.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma announced this in a statement on Wednesday night, disclosing that Obiozor died after a brief illness.
“On behalf of the Government 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,” he said.
Uzodinma who described the deceased as “an exceptional diplomat and a tenacious patriot”, said his demise was a big loss to the state, South-east and 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,” Uzodinma stated.
The announcement has thus ended days of speculations about the death of Obiozor, who was reported to have died on Monday at his residence in Imo State.
Obiozor, a professor, was elected 10th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on January 9, 2021, taking over from Nnia Nwodo who exited office after the expiration of his four-year tenure.
Obiozor hailed from Awo-Omamma in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria.
He served as Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Israel and Cyprus.
The Ohanaeze leader attended the Institute of African Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and the University of South Tacoma Washington US, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1968 before proceeding to Columbia University, New York, where he had a master’s degree in international law.
He served as a lecturer at Pratt Institute, New York City between 1971 and 1975, and as assistant professor of political science at City University of New York, among others.
