The African Policy and Research Consortium (APRC), a pan-African think tank, has thrown its weight behind a Nigerian, Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola, vying for the office of the UN Secretary-General. The consortium is dedicated to advancing Africa’s development agenda through research, innovation and strategic partnerships. Prof. Edward Agbai, APRC’s Deputy Executive-Coordinator, disclosed this in the organisation’s nomination letter for Duke-Abiola for the UN’s office, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. The letter is against the backdrop of global nominations of candidates in the race to succeed the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who is due to end his term on Dec. 31, 2026. He underscored the need for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination and endorsement to bolster support for qualified Nigerian and African candidature, especially with the nation’s bid for the UN Security Council seat. According to him, APRC appreciate the communication received through the Nigerian National Think Tank nomination of Duke-Abiola, widow of the late prominent politician M.K.O. Abiola, for consideration to the UN’s revered seat. Agbai said, “We commend your distinguished record of public service and your willingness to serve the international community at the highest level. “The office of the Secretary-General is one of the most significant leadership positions in global governance, requiring not only exceptional personal qualifications, but also the formal backing of a Member State of the UN.” He explained that selection processes of candidates for Secretary-General are formally presented by UN Member States, which begins with submission of a candidate’s name to the President of the UN Security Council. Also, that the Council would consider all nominated candidates and recommend one candidate to the UN General Assembly, which would then appoint the Secretary-General. He said, for a Nigerian, the authority to submit such nomination rests exclusively with the country’s President through appropriate constitutional and diplomatic channels of the Federal Government. “Consequently, any Nigerian aspiring to the office must first secure formal nomination and endorsement of the President of Nigeria, before the candidature can be considered by the UN,” he said. In the same vein, the presentation of Duke-Abiola would affirm Nigeria’s readiness to place before the international community a candidate of formidable intellectual, governmental and diplomatic stature, he added.
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