The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide joins numerous friends and well-wishers both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to felicitate Ambassador Ignatius Chukuemeka Olisemeka at 90, on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Olisemeka was a career diplomat who served as a Nigerian Ambassador to nine countries, including Spain, Israel, Canada, the United States of America (USA) with a climax as Nigerian Foreign Minister in 1999.

The life of Ambassador Olisemeka is a veritable tribute to hard work, probity, humility, discipline and creative intelligence. While in public service, he demonstrated an uncommon sense of ethical principles, innermost convictions and resolutions with a cheerful courtesy and candour.

References are often made that while Olisemeka served as an Ambassador in the US, he once directed the diplomatic staff to withdraw their children from private to public schools. In line with Nigerian syndrome, public schools in Washington DC metropolis were well-equipped but diplomats preferred the private to public schools as a form of elitism. This was not only a cost saving measure but a strong message to the Washington D. C community that prudence is key.

The above Olisemeka disposition is a moral to the highly placed Nigerian public officers that introspection pays better than the flamboyance, unnecessary display of ostentation and avoidable capital flight by sending their children to expensive schools abroad for education to the detriment of the worsening conditions of Nigerian schools.

Olisemeka’s devotion to the service of the nation was above and beyond the call of duty. He discharged his duties with an amazing commitment, incredible promptness, zest, elegance and panache. Above all, Olisemeka exemplifies simplicity, morality, integrity and honour even at his retirement. Olisemeka remains a worthy ambassador of the desired balance between the Igbo culture, urbane and native intelligence. He is indeed an accomplished and quintessential career diplomat and elder statesman.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor is elated that Olisemeka has attained 90. He refers to Olisemeka as an exemplary diplomat with several enviable attributes. Obiozor wishes Your Excellency many more years of good health, manifest grace and perfect peace of mind.