By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
UN Names Nigeria’s Ahunna Eziakonwa Special Adviser on Africa
The United Nations has appointed Nigerian diplomat Ahunna Eziakonwa as the new Special Adviser on Africa to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
She succeeds Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde and brings nearly three decades of experience within the UN system to the role.
Eziakonwa currently serves as Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she oversees development operations across 46 African countries.
According to the UN, she has played a central role since 2018 in shaping development strategies across the continent, particularly around economic growth, governance, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Her career includes senior positions as UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho, as well as leadership roles in humanitarian operations covering multiple African states.
She has also worked with various UN departments, including Peacekeeping Operations and Political Affairs, and previously served in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Eziakonwa holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Benin.
She is fluent in English and Igbo, with additional proficiency in Yoruba and French.
https://shorturl.fm/fIlZe