Nigeria Urged to Nominate Amina Mohammed for UN Secretary-General

Calls are growing for the Federal Government to formally nominate United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed as Nigeria's candidate for the position of the next UN Secretary-General, ahead of the end of António Guterres' tenure in January 2027.

In an opinion article published by Daily Trust, Aisha I. Dankani argued that Amina Mohammed possesses the experience, credibility and global recognition needed to lead the United Nations at a time of increasing international conflicts, climate challenges, humanitarian crises and economic uncertainty.

The article highlighted Mohammed's key role in shaping the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while serving as Special Adviser to former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Since 2017, she has served as the UN Deputy Secretary-General, overseeing global development initiatives and international cooperation.

Before joining the United Nations, Mohammed held several senior positions in Nigeria, including serving as Minister of Environment under former President Muhammadu Buhari and contributing to national development programmes during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration.

The article also praised her as a role model for women and girls across northern Nigeria, citing her achievements in international diplomacy while remaining committed to her cultural and religious values.

According to the author, Nigeria's formal endorsement of Amina Mohammed would demonstrate confidence in one of its most accomplished public servants and provide Africa with a highly respected candidate for the UN's top office.

However, the article noted that securing the position would ultimately depend on approval by the United Nations Security Council and confirmation by the UN General Assembly, meaning Nigeria's nomination alone would not guarantee her election.

The opinion concluded by urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration to support Amina Mohammed's candidacy, describing her as a qualified leader capable of representing both Nigeria and Africa on the global stage.

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