President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Ambassador James Duro Olufemi Sokoya, a veteran career diplomat and former Nigerian envoy, who passed away at the age of 94, describing him as a distinguished statesman whose life and service embodied the finest ideals of diplomacy and patriotism.
In a tribute he issued on Saturday, the President said while the nation mourns the passing of Ambassador Sokoya, Nigerians must also celebrate his remarkable life, enduring legacy and invaluable contributions to nation-building and Nigeria’s global standing.
Ambassador Sokoya, who was born in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, was described by the President as an extraordinary public servant who served the country with uncommon dedication, dignity and an unwavering belief in the power of dialogue to bridge divides and foster peace.
President Tinubu noted that Sokoya’s public service career began in the Old Western Region before Nigeria’s independence in 1960, where he worked as a teacher in primary and secondary schools as well as teacher-training colleges in Abeokuta, Ibadan and Ijebu-Ode.
During this period, he gained admission to the University of Ibadan to study Geography.
After graduating in 1960, Sokoya served in various ministries of the Western Nigeria government, including the Premier’s Office, where he distinguished himself through hard work, brilliance and patriotism, before transferring his service to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1962.
Throughout his diplomatic career, President Tinubu said, Ambassador Sokoya carried himself with calm wisdom, integrity and a deep commitment to service, noting that he understood diplomacy as more than negotiation but as a platform for building trust, nurturing peace and fostering enduring partnerships.
The President recalled that the late diplomat served in several strategic capacities, including as Head of the Asia Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Chief of Protocol under former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York; and as Head of the Nigerian Embassy in Bamako, Mali, in the capacity of Charge d’Affaires, as well as in Algiers, Algeria.
President Tinubu further highlighted Ambassador Sokoya’s instrumental role in Nigeria’s entry into the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and in the establishment of the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna, Austria. He also served as Deputy High Commissioner in London and later as Nigeria’s first Resident High Commissioner to Jamaica, with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and as High Commissioner to the Bahamas.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, the President described the late diplomat as a man of profound character, humble, principled and compassionate, who inspired younger diplomats through mentorship and positively impacted his community through kindness and service.
On behalf of the nation, President Tinubu expressed profound gratitude to Ambassador Sokoya for his devoted years of service, saying his legacy would remain a guiding light for generations of public servants.
The President extended his deepest condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late diplomat, praying that they find comfort in the knowledge that he left an indelible mark on Nigeria and all who knew him.
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