By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Nigeria has recorded a major diplomatic win as Ahunna Eziakonwa, a Nigerian development expert and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, has been appointed Special Adviser on Africa by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Eziakonwa currently serves as Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, where she oversees support to 46 African countries pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063
According to the United Nations on Friday, UN’s Secretary-General Guterres is grateful to Duarte for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organisation.
“She has helped shape UNDP’s strategic approach to economic and political development across the continent, since 2018,” the UN said.
The organisation said Eziakonwa brings nearly three decades of United Nations leadership experience to her new assignment, having worked across humanitarian, development and political portfolios on the continent.
Her career includes service as UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Uganda and Lesotho, where she led the UN’s engagement on development planning, humanitarian response and political coordination.
She also served as Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York, overseeing humanitarian operations in 15 African countries.
In addition, Eziakonwa held senior positions in Liberia and Sierra Leone during critical periods in both countries and later contributed to peacekeeping, political analysis and strategic communications at UN Headquarters.
Before joining the United Nations, she worked with several civil society organisations across Africa.
Eziakonwa holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, New York, with a focus on African economic and political development, and a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy, English and Literary Studies from the University of Benin.
The appointment, sees Eziakonwa succeed Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde as the UN’s top adviser on African affairs.