ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) _ A U.S.-trained professor became Nigeria's new foreign minister on Wednesday, replacing her internationally acclaimed predecessor who quit and returned to America.

Joy Ogwu, a political scientist and Nigerian university faculty member who studied at Rutgers University in New Jersey, took up her new duties immediately after a public swearing-in ceremony.

She replaces Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who resigned earlier this month.

Okonjo-Iweala, who gave up a top position at the World Bank in Washington to work in President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration, won praise from Western donors after she instituted a series of corruption-busting reforms in her previous post, as economics minister. Her face graced covers of international newsmagazines.

But a series of government reshuffles saw her moved to the Foreign Ministry, where her powers were diminished. After Obasanjo's office publicly rebuked her for highlighting graft in her new ministry, Okonjo-Iweala resigned and returned to Washington.

Ogwu, age 60, has advised the United Nations on disarmament issues and published books advocating closer African ties to Latin America.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, the continent's largest oil producer and an economic and diplomatic heavyweight.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 30.08.2006 13:35

ula-lisa  Villager

# 2 Congratulations. Please note that our appetite having been whetted, we expect more action; less gramma in the little time left... pls Have your staff read and download articles from NVS and you might find a lot there that would help. Welcome. P.S. Do you know how to :rolleyes: yet.? You need to learn to :rolleyes: here, it helps. Posted by ula-lisa| 30.08.2006 13:41

planet1899  Villager

# 3 What can she do in 10 months? It appears she is there just to mark time. The Planet. Posted by planet1899| 30.08.2006 13:48

Blameless

# 4 What a relief. Bye to rubbish ego, good r....... Posted by Blameless| 30.08.2006 13:50

ula-lisa  Villager

# 5 =Blameless;128036>What a relief. Bye to rubbish ego, good r....... ___________________________ I wonder what you might be talking of. I hope for your own sake that it is not what I think because I don begin pull shirt now... my shoes too are off... take my glasses someone... make I remove my belt? Okay... let Joy Ogwu settle don first before we come back to Mr. Blameful. Don't make me :rolleyes: a second time. Posted by ula-lisa| 30.08.2006 14:16

Blameless

# 6 I beg o. Na devil make me, no fight. Posted by Blameless| 30.08.2006 14:34

ula-lisa  Villager

# 7 We forgive you. Blameless. welcome to the roforofo villagesquare auntie Joy. Posted by ula-lisa| 30.08.2006 16:17

Obi  Villager

# 8 Congratulations to Mrs Joy Uchechukwu Ogwu. I wish you a tenure of achievement. A tenure, better than that of your predecessor sister Ngozichukwu. Posted by Obi| 30.08.2006 16:38

Papino  Villager

# 9 Who said Babasanjo is not trying?A man who has been able to see that it is en-vogue to appoint women as foreign ministers what with,the United States,Isreal and others.Haba,he is good and even knows it.Recently,he commended himself for "allowing"women some good oppurtunities and he is not done yet.Its all about Babacracy my people so lets appreciate his good gestures for remembering women more than anyone before him. Just out of curiosity,has any woman shown interest so far for presidency come April 2006? Please react to this question fast. Posted by Papino| 30.08.2006 17:51

Papino  Villager

# 10 Sorry folks i meant...April 2007 Posted by Papino| 30.08.2006 17:52

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