Director-General’s office

Ambassador Joe Keshi OON, FPA
In 2010, following the decision of the Governors of the South- South states of Nigeria to forge closer economic cooperation and integration of the region and to establish an institution, The BRACED COMMISSION, to  drive the process,  Ambassador Joe Keshi was appointed the Director- General  of the Commission. Ambassador Joe C. Keshi  had earlier retired from the  federal civil service of Nigeria, after an illustrious career and meritorious service to the country. He spent thirty four years in the service, twenty eight in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and six in the Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, first as the National Coordinator of the Nigerian National Volunteer Service and later as the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, under  both Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Ahaji Umaru Musa Yara dua He served under three distinguished Secretaries to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufort Ekaette; Amb Babagana Kingibe and  Mahmud Yayale.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served in various capacities in the Ministry’s Departments and in a number of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions notably; Togo, Ethiopia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Namibia, Sierra Leone and The Unite State of America where he served as the Consul General of Nigeria, covering 14 Southern States of the United States of America. A very perspective thinker and analyst, an astute and consummate diplomat, Amb keshi is a patriot, nationalist, pan-africanist to the core and a seasoned administrator. He distinguished himself in all his assignments by dint of hard work, dedication, uncommon commitment and passion and above all, by his friendly disposition and outreach. The Guardian Newspaper described him as ‘’a strong advocate of public diplomacy”.

It is generally said by those who know him well and had followed his career that there is no country he had served that he is not well remembered and respected for his  humaneness, humility and leadership qualities which stands him out among his peers. He had actively participated both as a junior and senior officer in effort s to resolve a number of Africa’s intractable crisis especially the Sierra Leone Civil War where his conflict resolution expertise was stretched to the limit.

For example, in Sierra Leone, he built an extensive relationship and networks with all actors in the civil war and this made him an acceptable honest broker to all sides. In recognition of his immense knowledge of the crisis and expertise in conflict resolution, he was sent along with another colleague by President Olusegun Obasanjo to the thick jungles of Liberia and Sierra Leone to persuade the Sierra Leonean rebels loyal to the late rebel leader Foday Sankor, to accept the Peace Accord which along with other international negotiators they had put together. For the four days they were in the jungle, they slept on the floor, heavily guarded even when visiting the conveniences.

Equally in Namibia, he built a solid and mutual trust even when it was a taboo with the South African authorities in Namibia to ensure that Nigeria’s support for the South West African People Organization (SWAPO) was not misconstrued and that the country’s first election was free, fair and transparent. However, it was in the USA, as Consul General in Atlanta that he really demonstrated his ability to bring people together for a common purpose when he initiated efforts to mobilize and involve Nigerians abroad in the imperative of national development. With the support and leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigerians abroad were encouraged to form the Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO), as a vehicle for their engagement with the Nigerian state. Amb. Keshi himself, on his return from the United State was appointed the National Coordinator of the Nigerian National Volunteer Service, established by the Federal Government in 2003 to mobilize and facilitate the involvement of Nigerians in the Diaspora in Nigeria’s development and to promote Volunteerism in Nigeria. In 2005, he initiated the annual Diaspora conference in science and technology with the sole purpose of creating a platform for dialogue ,interaction and synergies between Nigerian scientists abroad and their counterparts at home for the technological advancement of Nigeria. It was at the first conference that the then President declared July 25th of every year Nigeria Diaspora Day. Since 2004, Amb. Joe Keshi has single handedly, as a result of his vision, passion, commitment, drive and belief in the efficiency and potentials of the Nigerian Diaspora to transform Nigeria, pushed the word Nigerian Diaspora from obscurity into the country’s parlance. Equally he has also initiated various efforts for formal volunteerism in Nigerians.

Born in Zaria, Kaduna State in 1949, he schooled mostly in Lagos and Ibadan. He is a political science graduate from the University of Ibadan, holds a diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, a Masters in Administration and Development with emphasis in policy analysis from the Hague Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands. He is also a fellow of the John Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Amb. Joe Keshi is a recipient of many National and International awards. A man of many parts and one of the most detribalized Nigerian, a quintessential diplomat and administrator has been married for thirty three years. He is a father of three and a happy grandfather who makes it a duty to be around for the birth of his grand children.

Today, Amb. Joe Keshi sits on the board of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) as a Director and Vice Chairman and he is the Director-General of the BRACED Commission- a south-south economic cooperation institution devoted to the economic cooperation and integration of the south-south states. He is also the Chairman of Afrigrowth Foundation. The foundation among others is devoted to the mentoring of youths.