A Nigerian, Ahunna Eziakonwa has officially assumed the position of Under-Secretary- General at the United Nations, with responsibility as the Special Adviser on Africa.
She joins Amina Ibrahim, a former Nigerian minister on the same top leadership position at the UN.
The swearing-in of Eziakonwa was done on Friday by Secretary-General, Antonio Guteress at the UN Headquarters in New York.
“I look forward to continuing to serve and to amplifying Africa’s voice on the global stage. Together, we will build on UN support to unlock Africa’s immense potential and promise,” she said.
Eziakonwa brings nearly three decades experience within the UN system to the role, having previously served as Assistant Secretary-General.
She was also Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP from August 2018 to June this year.
Eziakonwa previously served as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in three African countries of Lesotho, Uganda and Ethiopia between 2008 and 2018.
The University of Benin graduate, who earned a Masters in International Relations from Columbia University in New York, also served as Chief of the Africa Section at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
