Former Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh Dies at 78

Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has died at the age of 78.

The statesman passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2025. His family, in a statement, confirmed the news, expressing “deep sadness” over the loss of their “beloved husband, father, and grandfather.”

The statement described Ogbeh as a man who “departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to our nation and community.” It added, “We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the example he set.”

The family said funeral arrangements will be announced in due course and appealed for privacy as they mourn their patriarch.

Born on July 28, 1947, Ogbeh was a distinguished Nigerian farmer, playwright, and politician. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019 and earlier held the position of Minister of Communications during the Second Republic between 1982 and 1983.

A prominent political figure, Ogbeh was the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2001 until January 2005.

Beyond politics, he was a respected literary figure, authoring five plays that remain significant works in Nigerian literature.

Ogbeh hailed from Efugo-Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

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