Ashiru, Nigeria's ex-foreign minister dies

The death has occurred of Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Nigeria’s former foreign minister. He was aged 66.

Family sources said he died in a South African hospital, after a protracted illness. The cause of death was suspected to be cancer.

He was born in Ijebu-Ode on 27th August, 1948 and served for a long time as a career diplomat in many countries of the world.

Among the countries were South Africa, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, United Kingdom and Sweden.

He was appointed Nigeria’s foreign minister in 2011 and served till 2013, when he was dropped in a cabinet reshuffle.

He was survived by a wife and four sons.