Geoffrey Onyeama

Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama (born 2 February 1956 ) is a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the minister for foreign affairs of Nigeria from November 2015 to May 2023. He was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Early life and education

Onyeama was born to the family of Nigerian jurist Charles Onyeama. His family has links to the Nigerian chieftaincy system; his grandfather, Onyeama of Eke, was a paramount chief in Colonial Igboland.

Onyeama holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in political science from Columbia University in 1977 and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in law from St John's College, Cambridge, in 1980. He holds a Master of Law (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1982 and a Master of Arts (M.A) in Law from St John's College, Cambridge in 1984. Onyeama was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1983 and was also called to the English Bar at Gray's Inn in 1981.

Personal life

Onyeama is married and has three children. His current wife is Sulola, with whom Onyeama has two children. Previously, Onyeama was married to Christian Onoh's daughter, Nuzo Onoh, who is an author and the first African recipient of the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award, and they have a daughter together.

On 19 July 2020, Onyeama went into medical isolation, after announcing that he had tested positive for COVID-19. In late August 2020, Onyeama recovered from COVID-19 coronavirus disease; and went back to his leadership service as HMFA: Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs at Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Author Dillibe Onyeama (1951–2022) was his brother.