Nigeria, Oct. 19 -- There are very few people in this world whose chance encounter with you has such a transformative impact in your growth and development as a person. Professor Joy Ogwu, former Nigerian Foreign Minister and Permanent Representative to the United Nations who recently passed was one of them.

I met her at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos where I had gone to invite and solicit sponsorship from the then Director General of the Institute, Dr. George Obiozor of a planned symposium by the International Relations Students Association (IRSA) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. I was then the President of the student body.

Dr. Obiozor was busy and could not see me and I decid...