Nigeria’s envoy to Spain dies at 63

Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, Demola Seriki, is dead.

The Lagos politician was said to have died in Madrid, Spain. He was aged 63.

His death was announced in a notice signed by his children on Thursday. The notice said that he died in Madrid, Spain in the early hours of the day.

“It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to Almighty Allah that we announce the loss of our much-loved and admired patriarch, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, His Excellency, Ambassador Demola Seriki, on December 15, 2022.

“He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Madrid, Spain,” the notice said.

Born on November 30, 1959, he was a politician, teacher, businessman, and public administrator. He served until his death as the Nigerian ambassador to Spain, a position he assumed in January 2021, with concurrent accreditation as a permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. He previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence.

Facts about late Nigeria’s envoy to Spain

Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, Demola Seriki, has died. He died in Madrid, Spain in the early hours of Thursday.

Here are the seven things you should know about the late Seriki:

1. Demola Seriki was born on Lagos Island on 30 November 1959.

2. Until his death, he was the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain with concurrent accreditation as a Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

3. He had his earlier education in Nigeria and later proceeded for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the United States of America where he bagged his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Accounting from the City University of New York in the United States of America.

4. Seriki, who was a grassroots politician, began his career as a clerical officer at Lagos City Council, Lagos Island in 1978.

5. At the national level, Seriki was a former minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Defence, Mines and Steel Development and Interior

6. In May 2009, the Oba of Lagos, HRH Oba Rilwan Akiolu conferred on Demola Seriki the chieftaincy title of ‘The Otun Aare of Lagos’.

7. Seriki is survived by wives and children.

(culled from Punch)