The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has recently returned from her trip to Nigeria. Whilst in Nigeria she began the official part of her trip by meeting with the Minister of Environment to discuss Nigeria’s climate and environment related issues. The meeting also focused on Africa’s pathway to COP27 and Nigeria’s new role as the Chair of the Great Green Wall (GGW) and the commitment made by the President at COP 26 to afforestation across the country.

The Deputy Secretary-General then proceeded to Lagos with the Executive Director of the Global Compact to meet with the private sector and the Global Compact Local Network, as a precursor to the launch in February of the UN Global Compact Africa Hub, which will be based in Abuja, Nigeria. Nigeria’s private sector is the largest and most active and the biggest contributor to the Global Compact in Africa.

During her time in Lagos, Ms. Mohammed called for a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to sustainable development and smart city solutions towards reinforcing integrated approaches to enhancing shared prosperity of cities and improved urban environment. She met with the Governor and members of his cabinet after her visit to Makoko, the world's largest water slum, where she met with women’s groups, youth and the traditional leaders of the area.

The Deputy Secretary-General then proceeded to Ibadan, Oyo State, by train to visit the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria related to discussions with the Minister of Environment on the reafforestation, adaptation and the GGW. The DSG also took the opportunity to visit an AI Robotic Center to see first hand the potentials of youth empowered for the future of work.

Ms. Mohammed returned to Abuja from 6-8 December to commence meetings with senior government officials. She met with the Minister of Health to discuss the Africa Vaccine Manufacturers Initiative and UN’s support through WHO and UNICEF to improving vaccines manufacturing capacity.

She met with the North West Governors to discuss development challenges and the increasing threat to development gains due to heightened insecurity in the region. She also met with the Governor of Borno State and discussed UN support through the UNDP stabilization program in the lake Chad.

Thereafter she met with Ambassadors and the donor community to hear from, and discuss, collaborative engagement and the joint advocacy strategy.

The Deputy Secretary-General met with the UN Country Team during her visit. Her visit coincided with the farewell of the outgoing Resident Coordinator and the arrival of his ad interim replacement.

The Deputy Secretary-General capped off her visit with a courtesy visit to the Presidency.