Garba, Joseph Nanven

▪ 2003

      Nigerian military officer and diplomat (b. July 17, 1943, Langtang, Nigeria—d. June 1, 2002, Abuja, Nigeria), participated in the 1975 bloodless coup that deposed Gen. Yakubu Gowon as head of state, then served as external affairs commissioner (foreign minister) until 1978 and as Nigeria's ambassador to the UN (1984–89). Garba studied public administration at Harvard University (1982–83). A committed pan-Africanist, he held prominent positions in several international organizations, notably as president of a foreign ministers meeting sponsored by the Organization of African Unity in 1976, leader of the 1976 summit conference of nonaligned nations, and chairman of the UN's Special Committee Against Apartheid (1984–89). Garba's autobiography, Diplomatic Soldiering, was published in 1987.

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