Nigerian Takes Up New Role at the UN as Special Adviser on Africa

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has named Ahunna Eziakonwa from Nigeria as the new Special Adviser on Africa.

She takes over from Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde, who the Secretary-General thanks for her hard work and service to the organization.

Ms Eziakonwa comes with nearly thirty years of experience in UN leadership.

Right now, she is the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In this role, she supports 46 African countries in their efforts to meet Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Since 2018, she has helped guide UNDP’s strategies for economic and political development across Africa.

Ms Eziakonwa has a wide range of experience in UN activities in Africa.

She has worked as the UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho. There, she coordinated humanitarian efforts, development strategies, and political actions.

As the Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in New York, she managed humanitarian work in 15 African countries and held top positions in Liberia and Sierra Leone during key moments in both countries.

At UN Headquarters, she was involved in peacekeeping, political analysis, and strategic communications related to UN activities in Africa. She worked with various UN Departments, including Peacekeeping Operations, Political Affairs, and Public Information.

Before joining the UN, she worked in different African civil society organizations.

Ms Eziakonwa has a Master’s degree in International Affairs focused on African economic and political development from Columbia University in New York, USA. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Pedagogy, English, and Literary Studies from the University of Benin in Nigeria.

Along with her native Igbo and English, she speaks fluent Yoruba and has a working knowledge of French.