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Chief Emeka Anyaoku

Posted by Webby on 7/31/2001 11:21:54 AM


Chief Emeka Anyaoku

One of the crop of young men recruited into the Nigeria diplomatic service at independence, went on to become the Commonwealth Secretary-General (1990-2000). He became the third secretary general at a time when the organisation was undergoing fundamental changes.

Chief Anyaoku has been dubbed “a diplomat’s diplomat” for his long involvement in diplomatic and international service, including some 35 years of Commonwealth initiatives and negotiations across the 54-nation wide body.In 1998 he received the freedom of the city of London, the highest honour the ancient capital of Britain can bestow. The former secretary general had a $1.8 million chair in Commonwealth studies named after him at the University of London. He was decorated by Queen Elizabeth as an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCBVO).