Queen Worlu
Queen Imaria Worlu (April 4, 1960 – July 9, 2018) was a Nigerian career diplomat. She served as Nigeria's Ambassador to neighboring São Tomé and Príncipe from 2017 until her death in 2018.[1][2][3]
Biography and career[edit]
Worlu was born in Benin City, Edo State, April 4, 1960, to Chief Christopher Osifo and Ijose Ogiamen.[3] She was her parents' third child.[3] Worlu enrolled at St Maria Goretti College in Benin City, from which she received her West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1975.[3] She then attended Idi College in Benin City beginning in 1977, which led to her acceptance to the University of Lagos, also in 1977.[3]
Worlu received her Bachelor's of Arts in philosophy from the University of Lagos in 1981.[3] She joined the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 1981 to 1982 following her graduation and was sent to Jos in Plateau State.[3]
Queen Worlu later completed her postgraduate diploma in international relations at the Foreign Service Academy in Lagos.[1] During her diplomatic career, Worlu also obtained another postgraduate degree in theology from Redeemer's University Nigeria, a certificate in Protocol Service Duties while stationed in Rome, and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the Shobhit Institute of Engineering & Technology in Meerut, India.[1]
In 1987, Worlu joined the Nigerian Foreign Service.[1] She served in the Foreign Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until her death in 2018.[1] Worlu was posted as a consular officer at the Embassy of Nigeria in Lisbon, Portugal, from 1998 until 2003.[1][3] She also participated in United Nations peacekeeping conferences and workshops in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.[1]
In June 2014, Worlu was posted to the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi, India, as a trade and development minister.[1] She was promoted to Deputy High Commissioner during her tenure in New Delhi, which lasted from 2014 until 2015.[1] As Deputy High Commissioner to India, she filled in as acting High Commissioner on several occasions from 2015 to 2016.[1][2][3]
More recently, Queen Worlu was a member of high-level negotiations between India and Nigeria.[1] As a result of the negotiations, India extended a $100 million line of credit to Nigeria.[1][2]
In 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Worlu as Ambassador of Nigeria to São Tomé and Príncipe. She held the ambassadorship until her death in July 2018.[1][2]
Queen Worlu died during her posting in São Tomé on July 9, 2018, at the age of 58, following a brief illness.[1][2] [3] She was survived by her husband, Sampson O. Worlu, the former director general of the Voice of Nigeria, and their three sons - Jesse, Chizi and Chituga.[3] She was buried in Abuja following her funeral on July 27, 2018.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Nigeria's ambassador to Sao Tome and Principe, Queen Imaria Worlu is dead". Per Second News. 2018-07-10. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- ^ a b c d e "Nigeria's Ambassador To Sao Tome, Queen Worlu Imaria Dies". City Scoop. 2018-07-11. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Okoro, Ugo (2018-08-27). "Nigeria's Ambassador To Sao Tome, Queen Worlu Imaria Dies". Voice of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-07.