President-General of apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor is dead.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State announced Obiozor’s death in a statement on Wednesday night.

“On behalf of the government and people of Imo state, I, Sen Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo state, sorrowfuly announce the passage of a great son of Imo state and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor.

“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.

“The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former NIGERIA’S ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel, is a big loss to Imo state, the South East and the entire Nigeria. I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.

“May his great and gentle soul rest in peace,” the statement read in part.

According to the statement, Obiozor’s burial arrangements will be announced in due course by his family.

Obiozor was elected president of Ohanaeze in January 2021.

He succeeded John Nnia Nwodo as President-General of the apex Igbo sociocultural group.