A quintessential Diplomat, Legal Luminary and International Civil Servant, His Excellency, Barr. Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama was born some 68 years ago on February 2, 1956. He obtained his post-secondary education from some of the best institutions in the world, namely: Columbia University, New York, USA; St. John’s College, Cambridge University, UK; and London School of Economics & Political Science [LSE], University of London.
Among others, he holds a degree in Political Science [majoring in International Relations], Bachelor’s & Master’s in Law degrees from Cambridge University and LSE; and qualified as a Barrister in England and as a Barrister & Solicitor in Nigeria.
Geoffrey Onyeama spent 29 years and 9 months at WIPO.
He started as an Assistant Program Officer and ended as Deputy Director-General, which is equivalent to Under Secretary-General of the United Nations.
At WIPO, Geoffrey Onyeama worked for many years in the Africa Bureau where he implemented programs promoting the use of intellectual property as a tool for economic, social, technological and cultural development in Africa, through policy development, strategic planning, legislative advice, institution strengthening and capacity building. In particular he played a crucial role in the elaboration of a road map for the development of a responsive intellectual property system in Nigeria. Nollywood and the music industry are direct beneficiaries and stakeholders of that intellectual property system and of course the Nigerian economy has grown substantially as a result.
Geoffrey Onyeama, as an Assistant Director-General worked to promote the use of intellectual property as a tool for development in Asia, Arab Countries, Latin America and the Caribbean and worked to strengthen cooperation with industry and non-governmental organizations in Europe and North America and also to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations and United Nations agencies.
Geoffrey Onyeama spent almost 30 years in WIPO promoting in our world, creativity, innovation, trade, culture and access to medicines through a flexible and responsive intellectual property system.
After leaving WIPO in 2014, Geoffrey Onyeama returned to Nigeria and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2015.
He served in that position until 2023 and was this one of the longest Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria’s history.
As a Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama pursued a policy of constructive engagement with all countries. In particular, he promoted democracy in West Africa and during his tenure, Nigeria played a crucial role in saving democracy in The Gambia and in guiding the successful democratic transition in Guinea Bissau as well as strengthening cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He also played an important role in preventing African countries from withdrawing en masse from the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the framework of the African Union. He also oversaw the successful evacuation of Nigerians from several trouble spots around the world including the successful evacuations during the Covid pandemic.
In the framework of a dynamic economic diplomacy initiative, Geoffrey Onyeama oversaw the signing of numerous memorandums of understanding on trade with several countries around the world and also managed successful campaigns to have Nigerians appointed on top positions in major international organizations.
He intervened robustly and decisively to defend the human rights of Nigerians in various countries around the world whenever those rights were threatened or violated. He also successfully organized and managed several Presidential state visits to major countries around the world as well as visits to Nigeria of major world leaders, thereby cementing Nigeria’s position as a respected partner on the international scene.
He ensured that Nigeria played an active and influential role in addressing global issues and challenges at the multilateral level of the United Nations and other international organizations.
Throughout his almost 40 years of service at the international level, Geoffrey Onyeama has always acted with utmost integrity, dedication and loyalty and fought passionately for peace, justice and human development and prosperity everywhere in the world.
He is married with children.
Ladies & Gentlemen, we are proud to invite His Excellency, Amb. Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama to receive the Hallmarks of Labour-Emeka Anyaoku Lifetime Achievement Award to Nigeria’s Outstanding International Icon.
Hearty Congratulations, Sir!