UN chief appoints Nigerian Eziakonwa as Special Adviser on Africa

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Ahunna Eziakonwa of Nigeria as his Special Adviser on Africa. Eziakonwa succeeds Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde, for whom Guterres expressed gratitude for her dedicated service.

Eziakonwa brings a wealth of experience, spanning nearly three decades of leadership within the United Nations system. In her current capacity as UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she oversees the organization's support for 46 African countries. Her work focuses on advancing Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, alongside the African Union's Agenda 2063.

Since 2018, Eziakonwa has been instrumental in shaping UNDP's strategic approach to economic and political development across the continent. Her career within the UN in Africa is extensive, having served as UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho. In these roles, she coordinated humanitarian action, development strategies, and political engagement.

Her previous positions include Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in New York, where she managed humanitarian operations across 15 African countries. She also held senior posts in Liberia and Sierra Leone during critical periods. Eziakonwa holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Benin, Nigeria. She is fluent in Igbo, English, and Yoruba, with a working knowledge of French.

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is grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organisation.