Former minister of state for foreign affairs and ex-member of the House of Representatives, Chief Dubem Onyia, has passed away.
Onyia, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 before resigning to serve as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2003, died yesterday at an Abuja hospital during a brief illness.
A seasoned diplomat and politician, Onyia played a key role in Nigeria’s foreign relations, holding strategic positions such as Chairman, International Technical Commission for the National Boundary Commission, Chairman, Nigeria Economic Joint Commission, and Chairman, São Tomé and Príncipe Joint Boundary Commission.
Beyond politics, he served on numerous corporate boards and government committees, earning multiple national and international honours.
He was also a trustee of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, contributing to national development initiatives.