Former foreign affairs minister, Dubem Onyia is dead…He was aged 73

Dubem Onyia, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has passed away at the age of 73.

According to a source close to the late Onyia, he died on Monday in Abuja.

Onyia, who hailed from Enugu State, had a distinguished career in politics and public service.

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 but resigned to serve as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The late Onyia held several key positions, including chairman of the international technical commission for the National Boundary Commission, chairman of the Nigeria Economic Joint Commission, and chairman of the Sao Tome and Principe Joint Boundary Commission.

A seasoned administrator and accountant, Onyia chaired numerous corporate boards and served on various government committees. He was also a trustee of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation.

Born on February 23, 1952, in Enugu, Onyia attended Ikeja District Primary School, Lagos; Fatima College, Ikire; and the College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu.

He furthered his education in the United Kingdom (UK) at the Northampton College of Technology, Nene College (an affiliate of Leicester University), and Coventry Polytechnic.

His career included roles as a clerical officer at Post and Telecommunications (P&T) in Enugu, trainee accountant at Trickers International Ltd in the UK, and accountant at Evans Publishers in Ibadan.

He was also a trustee of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation.