But she is yet to present her credentials to the Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, US-based Nigerian news agency Empowered Newswire reported on Thursday.
Nigeria’s mission to the UN has been managed in the last seven months by a Charge D’Affairs, Amb. Felix Aniokoye, in the absence of a substantial head as Permanent Representative.
Aniokoye, a top rate career diplomat, is the Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN.
A source at the United Nations said the former External Affairs Minister, would have to wait until after May 2 to present her credentials to Ban who is currently on a visit to West Africa.
It is traditional that once a country’s Permanent Representative to the UN arrives in New York the Ambassador would present his/her credential to the UN scribe who will receive such a representative on behalf of the entire UN membership.
A good part of the schedule of the UN Secretary-General on a regular basis is to receive new permanent representatives as they replace old ones.
Nigerian government sources in New York also confirmed that Ogwu arrived earlier this week and had resumed at the magnificent Nigeria House located only a stone throw away from the UN headquarters in midtown Manhattan, New York.
At the UN, Nigeria is considered a leader especially among the African group and in the Group 77 and the Non Aligned Movement, three important power blocs at the UN.
For instance recent plans to review ideas on how to expand the Security Council membership to add new permanent members is being largely depended on the bloc of African members with 53 votes in the General Assembly.
The presence of a substantial Permanent Representative for Nigeria is expected to raise the tone and voice of Nigeria not only in the African Group but at the UN General Assembly also which is a major legislative organ of the UN