Ohen Okun was Nigeria's first ambassador to any foreign country when he was sent to Lisbon, Portugal as the Ambassador of Benin, during the reign of Oba Ozolua n'Ibaromi (1480-1516).
In 1485, John Affonso d'Aveiro visited Benin as an envoy from King John II of Portugal. It took d'Aveiro an average of two months to get to the Bight of Benin, present day Nigeria, from the port of Lisbon in Portugal, and another three or four days to trek from the ancient Benin Port of Ughoton to the capital city, Benin-City itself, to seek audience with the Benin Monarch, Oba Ozolua on trade activities.
Ozolua then chose Ohen Okun of Ughoton as the ambassador from Benin to propose missionary activity in the kingdom and a royal conversion to Christianity in exchange for trade in firearms. The choice of Ohen Okun of Ughoton as the ambassador was perhaps informed by the importance of Ughoton as Benin‟s seaport and by the fact of his already having become accustomed to interacting with foreigners who visited Benin by sea.
Ohen Okun was treated with utmost respect and learnt to speak Portuguese. In fact, the Portuguese Royal Chroniclers described Ambassador Ohen-Okun as “a man of good speech” as he had wowed King John II of his oratory.
The mission of the Ohen-Okun of Ughoton to Lisbon was a success. He later returned to Benin in 1514 as the first known diplomat of Nigerian origin to Europe. Historyisourpride
In 1485, John Affonso d'Aveiro visited Benin as an envoy from King John II of Portugal. It took d'Aveiro an average of two months to get to the Bight of Benin, present day Nigeria, from the port of Lisbon in Portugal, and another three or four days to trek from the ancient Benin Port of Ughoton to the capital city, Benin-City itself, to seek audience with the Benin Monarch, Oba Ozolua on trade activities.
Ozolua then chose Ohen Okun of Ughoton as the ambassador from Benin to propose missionary activity in the kingdom and a royal conversion to Christianity in exchange for trade in firearms. The choice of Ohen Okun of Ughoton as the ambassador was perhaps informed by the importance of Ughoton as Benin‟s seaport and by the fact of his already having become accustomed to interacting with foreigners who visited Benin by sea.
Ohen Okun was treated with utmost respect and learnt to speak Portuguese. In fact, the Portuguese Royal Chroniclers described Ambassador Ohen-Okun as “a man of good speech” as he had wowed King John II of his oratory.
The mission of the Ohen-Okun of Ughoton to Lisbon was a success. He later returned to Benin in 1514 as the first known diplomat of Nigerian origin to Europe. Historyisourpride
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