Nigerian Elected President of United Nations General Assembly 74th Session
Credit: UN Photo / Evan Schneider / Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, addresses the General Assembly upon his election as President of the Assembly’s seventy-fourth session at world headquarters in New York June 4, 2019.
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, has been elected President of the UN General Assembly’s Seventy-Fourth session. Muhammad-Bande will succeed Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa as UNGA president. The Nigerian diplomat officially takes over as UNGA president at opening of the 74th session in September.
“Peace and security, poverty eradication, zero hunger, quality education, climate action and inclusion will constitute a major priority of my presidency”
-Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
Upon becoming the next UNGA president, the Nigerian ambassador said he will be committed to promoting partnerships that are needed from all stakeholders “to achieve our objectives, and ultimately ensure that we do our best to ensure peace and prosperity, particularly, for the most vulnerable”.
My sincere congratulations to HE Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande #Nigeria, for his election as 74th #UNGA President. Amb. Tijjani brings with him an outstanding career both as scholar & diplomat. My team & I will be at your disposal to ensure the smoothest transition possible #UN4ALL pic.twitter.com/DO9JewU4kV
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) June 4, 2019
Fernanda Espinosa is only the fourth woman to hold that position in the history of the world body, and the first since 2006.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated Muhammad-Bande and noted some of the “many important and admirable qualifications” he brings to the office. The Secretary General pointed to the president-elect’s tenure as Nigeria’s UN Ambassador; his expertise in political science and public administration; and the “invaluable insights” he has into Africa’s challenges and world affairs in general, particularly regarding the Organization’s peace and security work, sustainable development and human rights.
