Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has announced the death of Prof. George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo people.
The announcement came in an obituary announcement by the governor, made available to newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday.
Uzodimma described Obiozor, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States and Israel as ” a renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot ” whose death is a big loss to Imo, the southeast and Nigeria in general.
He prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
”On behalf of the government and people of Imo state, I sorrowfully announce the passage of a great Son of Imo state and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide, Prof George OBIOZOR.
”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,” Uzodimma said.
He, however, added that burial arrangements for the late Obiozor would be announced in due course by the family.
Obiozor was born on 15 August 1942. He studied at the Institute of African Studies, and Albert Schweitzer College. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1969, and from Columbia University with a Ph.D. in International Affairs.
Obiozor was director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. He later became the High Commissioner to Cyprus, before becoming ambassador to Israel, from 1999 to 2003, then ambassador to the United States, from 2004 to 2008.
Obiozor was elected as the President General of Ohaneze ndi Igbo on 9 January 2021, a socio-cultural group was formed to cater for the welfare of the Igbo nation from Nigeria.
