By Sunday Oyinloye
The event was tagged “informal retirement from service get-together for Ambassador Obinna Onowu” and held in his residence in Abuja, Nigeria, but the caliber of attendees made it more glorious than a formal get-together. It was an unprecedented gathering of serving and retired Ambassadors. They all came to rejoice with one of the best brains in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs who has just retired after 32 years of service to his country and haven attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Interestingly, Mr. Obinna Chiedu Onowu, immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium who doesn’t like noise or praise singing had to host his colleagues and others in an event that was believed to have been largely put together by his spouse, Justina. Close to 15 foreign Ambassadors and about 20 serving and retired Nigerian diplomats were also in attendance.
Ambassador Onowu despite his quiet nature is well known in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The reason is simple; he is one of the best career diplomats Nigeria has ever produced. He knows his job so well; he is thorough and always meticulous while reading any official document. Little wonder some Nigerian diplomats who spoke at the informal retirement get-together said Nigeria still needs his services.
Beyond what his colleagues said about him, other public servants at the event described Ambassador Onowu as a brilliant and exceptional career diplomat
When he was appointed the Ambassador of Nigeria to Belgium, his colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, knew he would make a difference which he eventually did. Under his watch, the first Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum was held in Brussels. The forum has now become an annual event, attracting Foreign Direct Investment (DFI) to Nigeria.
During his tenure, Nigerian Embassy in Belgium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A-Law International Law Firm that would facilitate Foreign Direct Investment and training of Nigerian Judges and Lawyers.
The MoU serves as the primary basis for the relationship between the Embassy and the Law Firm, and contemplates inter-alia on leveraging and exchanging information and network in the areas of trade and investment, maritime and logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and other relevant sectors of interest in Nigeria.
Again, during his tenure as Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, there were trade missions from Belgium to Nigeria. Not only that, he was able to unite the Nigerian community in Belgium.
And in a bid to promote Nigeria’s culture and boost the tourism industry, the Embassy of Nigeria in Belgium in collaboration with Nigerian community/associations in Belgium, and Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) organised Nigeria Arts and Culture Festival during Onowu’s tenure as an Ambassador.
The Festival with the theme “Unity 2023”and held in Antwerp, Belgium featured arts and culture exhibition, Nigerian dance, music, foods, and movies among others.
His last major national assignment was in Hong Kong, May 30, 2025, where he signed on behalf of the Federal Government a document that made Nigeria become a member of the International Organisation for Mediation; the world’s first intergovernmental legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation.
In his short remarks at the informal get-together, Ambassador Onowu expressed gratitude to foreign and Nigerian diplomats, his immediate and extended family, as well as friends who graced the event even though it was not a formal gathering. According to him, it was a rare privilege to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs adding that serving in different countries during his career as a diplomat was also a privilege.
Formerly Charge d’Affaires En-Titre of Nigeria to Burundi, Ambassador Onowu has also served as Minister at the Embassy of Nigeria in The Hague, Netherlands, and as Legal Adviser and Alternate Political Coordinator to Nigeria’s delegation to the UN Security Council. Onowu has also served in Nigeria’s Missions to the UK, at the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, in Geneva, Switzerland; and in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Until he retired from service this month, Ambassador Obinna Chiedu Onowu was the Director International Organisations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
