President Bola Tinubu is set to confer national honours on several Nigerians serving within the United Nations system, according to Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim. The announcement was made during a dinner hosted for members of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNSRC) – Nigeria Association at Nigeria House in New York. Ambassador Ibrahim emphasized that the Tinubu administration values the exceptional contributions of Nigerians across UN agencies and remains committed to rewarding excellence and service to both Nigeria and the global community.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Ibrahim stated, “Many of you here deserve national honours,” and assured attendees that some would be recognized in the next batch of national honours. He highlighted President Tinubu’s pledge to honor Nigerians who have distinguished themselves internationally, particularly within the UN framework. The envoy expressed deep appreciation for the professionalism, sacrifice, and dedication of Nigerian professionals working in various UN departments, programmes, and agencies.
Ambassador Ibrahim also suggested that the Nigerian government should consider appointing some of these accomplished professionals as ministers or heads of federal agencies, leveraging their international experience for national development. He encouraged others to consider taking leave of absence to serve Nigeria at the federal or state level, noting that the country is ready to support their careers and provide necessary backing.
The ambassador declared that Nigeria has returned strongly to the centre of multilateral diplomacy and global affairs, citing recent diplomatic wins as evidence. Among these is the appointment of Ahunna Eziakonwa as Special Adviser on Africa to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, achieved within the first 90 days of his tenure. He also noted Prof. Olufemi Elias’ election to the International Law Commission and Nigeria’s leadership of the Fifth Committee on Budgetary and Administrative Matters, a position he was elected to just two weeks prior.
Ambassador Ibrahim announced that Nigeria will present Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia as its candidate for the UN CEDAW Committee for the 2027–2030 term. On the issue of Security Council reform, he reiterated Nigeria’s strong support for greater African representation, stressing that Africa, with 54 UN member states and 25% of the world’s population, must have permanent seats on the Council. He confirmed that President Tinubu will attend the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in September, encouraged by Nigeria’s growing influence in global affairs.
On security, the envoy noted that the government is using both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to address insecurity. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, in remarks delivered by Vivian Okeke, praised Nigerians in the UN system for embodying Nigeria’s resilience, intellect, and ambition. She emphasized that Africa is not just a beneficiary of multilateralism but a key driver of it, commending Nigeria’s long-standing contributions to peacekeeping and development.
Foluke Ojelabi, President of the Nigerian Association in the UN, welcomed Nigeria’s renewed visibility at the UN and commended Nigerian professionals for their dedication. She also raised concerns about funding challenges affecting the UN and its staff. The UNSRC-Nigeria Association includes UN employees, diplomats, and retirees of Nigerian descent based in New York. As Nigeria strengthens its global footprint, its diplomatic re-engagement continues to open new doors for national recognition and international leadership.
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