Good night, Ambassador JTF Iyalla (1928 – 2019) By Bell IHUA
This article was first published in Business Day Newspaper of March 29, 2019. Nigeria, nay Africa and the global diplomatic community, has lost a titan in the person of Ambassador Joe Tonye Fubara Iyalla OFR, fondly called JTF or Joe Iyalla. He passed on in the early hours of January 30, 2019, at the ripe age of 90 years. A diplomat of diplomats, envoy of envoys and ambassador extraordinaire, Joe Iyalla stood tall in the diplomatic community and his influence towered through Nigeria’s Foreign Service and Business circles. My late father, Mr. Emmanuel E. Ihua was an Associate of Amb Iyalla, and served under him for 22 years as Group General Manager to his group companies, in his post-service life. I grew up knowing Ambassador as my father’s boss. It is therefore my distinct honour and privilege to pay tribute to this illustrious African diplomat, and to honour the friendship and mentoring that my late father enjoyed, learning at his feet. From very humble beginnings, t