Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye (January 1947 – August 27, 2015) was a Nigerian historian and diplomat.

Adebowale Adefuye
Adefuye during a visit to the White House, March 29, 2010
Born
Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye

January 1947
DiedAugust 27, 2015
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan
Occupation(s)Historian and diplomat
Known forDiplomacy

Academic career edit

Born in Ijebu-Igbo, Adefuye attended the University of Ibadan, first graduating in 1969.[1] He obtained a Ph.D in history from the same institution in 1973.[2] During his academic career, Adefuye was named a Fulbright Scholar and used the funds to do research at Columbia University, the University of North Florida, and the University of Florida.[3] Adefuye taught at the University of Lagos, heading the school's history department from 1985 to 1987.[2]

Diplomatic career edit

He was named the Ambassador to Jamaica in 1987, serving until 1991. During that period, Adefuye also concurrently served as the ambassador to Belize and Haiti. He was then the Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.[4] Adefuye left that post to serve as the deputy director of the Commonwealth of Nations for fourteen years. After leaving the Commonwealth, he became an advisor to the Economic Community of West African States in 2008.[5] President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Adefuye the ambassador to the United States in 2010. During his tenure, Adefuye continually advocated for the United States to provide more military aid to Nigeria to effectively counter the forces of Boko Haram.[6] He was recalled in 2015 after Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as president of Nigeria.[2]

He died in Washington, D.C., on August 27, 2015,[7] of a heart attack.[8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ "Nigerian Ambassador to the US passes away". News 24 Nigeria. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Nigerian Ambassador To The U.S. Ade Adefuye Is Dead". Sahara Reporters. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Nigerian Ambassador to U.S., Adebowale Adefuye, dead — Report". Premium Times. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  4. ^ Ibeh, Nnenna (2019-08-28). "Opinion: Remembering Adebowale Adefuye (1947 -2015) by Reuben Abati". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  5. ^ "Adefuye died in US hospital, says Ministry of Foreign Affairs". The News Nigeria. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  6. ^ O'Grady, Siobhán (28 August 2015). "Outspoken Nigerian Envoy to Washington Dies Suddenly". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Senate president, Saraki, others mourn late ambassador". Pulse News Nigeria. 29 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Nigeria confirms death of envoy to US". Dispatch Times. 29 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  9. ^ Oluwarotimi, Abiodun (28 August 2015). "How Nigeria's Ambassador To US, Professor Adefuye, Died". Leadership. Archived from the original on 2015-09-01. Retrieved 30 August 2015.