Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator who also happens to be the Director-General of Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, is dead.
The African Continental Free Trade Area confirmed this in a tweet.
“Breaking: Amb Chiedu Osakwe, Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator & Director General of Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation has passed on. May his soul rest in peace. Africa has lost an illustrious son, a role model per excellent.” #AfCFTA #AfricaMourn #africanpride
The President reacted to the news via a series of tweet. The President described the loss of Amb. Chiedu Osakwe as the loss of a “rare gem” in his government.
“On behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and all Nigerians, President @MBuhari condoles with the family of Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Director General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations @TradeOfficeNG, Amb. Chiedu Osakwe.
“The President notes, with deep pain,that the passing of Amb Osakwe has created a gulf in @TradeOfficeNG, which he served as pioneer Dir-General, bringing invaluable experience, knowledge & skill in setting up & motivating the operations of the agency that was established in 2017.
“President @MBuhari commiserates with all friends, relations and professional associates of the deceased, who served the country for many years as Foreign Service Officer, before joining the Word Trade Organisation, … and later accepting to return to the country as a Trade Adviser to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Director General of @TradeOfficeNG
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“The President affirms that the intellectual depth, fervour and sense of patriotism that Amb. Osakwe handled responsibilities will be sorely missed, especially the frontline and historical role of chairing the Negotiating Forum of the African Union (AU) … from June 2017 to March 2018, during which time the negotiations were concluded on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (#AfCFTA)