UN Secretary-General appoints Nigeria's Ahunna Eziakonwa as Special Adviser on Africa
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
UN Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres has appointed Ahunna Eziakonwa of Nigeria as the new Special Adviser on Africa. She succeeds Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde. Eziakonwa brings nearly three decades of United Nations leadership experience to this role. She currently serves as UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, where she oversees support for 46 African countries in pursuing Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union鈥檚 Agenda 2063. Since 2018, she has contributed to UNDP's strategic approach to economic and political development across the continent. Her experience includes serving as UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho. She also managed humanitarian operations in 15 African countries as Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York, and held senior posts in Liberia and Sierra Leone. At UN Headquarters, she contributed to peacekeeping, political analysis, and strategic communications related to UN engagement in Africa. Before joining the UN, she worked with several African civil society organizations. Eziakonwa holds a Master鈥檚 degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Benin, Nigeria. She speaks Igbo, English, Yoruba, and has a working knowledg
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadGang violence in Haiti has led to at least 2,300 deaths, 1,100 injuries, and 99 kidnappings since the beginning of the year, according to the United Nations. UN human rights chief Volker Turk called on authorities to address impunity and emphasized the urgent need for a Gang Suppression Force GSF to operate in line with international human rights law. The UN Security Council approved the GSF last year, which will replace the Multinational Mission to Support the Haitian Police MMAS. An initial deployment plan for the GSF, with a ceiling of 5,500 troops and police officers, has been approved. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to visit Haiti to show solidarity with victims of the violence.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 general elections, praised Afrobeats artist Davido for using his platform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert to protest insecurity and mass abductions in Nigeria. Obi stated on his official X handle that Davido's actions were patriotic, transcending entertainment to demand international scrutiny. Davido appeared on stage wearing a customized leather jacket with names of recently abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and the inscription "BRING THEM HOME." Obi highlighted that Davido's gesture drew global attention to Nigeria's security challenges and advocated for the safe return of captives. The former Anambra State governor added that the insecurity across the federation warrants urgent international scrutiny, given the government's inability to address the situation. Obi also noted Nigeria's absence from the 2026 World Cup was due to a deficiency in political leadership, not a lack of talent, pointing to Nigerian artists like Davido, Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr featuring on the official soundtrack album and Nigerians representing other nations in the tournament. Burna Boy and Shakira performed at the World Cup opening in Mexico City, and Rema performed a collaborative track with BLACKPINK's Lisa and Anitta.
Must ReadBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a forthcoming ban on social media for children under 16, citing concerns that these platforms make children unhappy, expose them to dangerous content, and are designed to be addictive. The ban will include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, but not messaging services such as WhatsApp. The government aims to pass the regulation by late December, with the ban taking effect in spring next year. Starmer also indicated plans for "world-leading action on gaming services and live streaming platforms," and the government is considering overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under 18s. This move follows Australia's similar ban in December and a UK government consultation where 91% of responding parents backed a minimum age of 16. A YouTube spokesperson warned that a blanket ban could push children towards "less safe services." The UK government also recently mandated that tech giants like Apple and Google introduce safety features within three months to prevent children from sending and receiving nude images, threatening legislation if they fail to comply. This initiative aims to protect children from coercion, abuse, and sextortion, with the government citing an Internet Watch Foundation analysis that 91% of online child sexual abuse reports in 2024 involved self-generated content.