The special representative of the Secretary General, United Nations Office of West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Antonio Guterres has said the appointment of Nigeria’s minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed as the Deputy Secretary General of the UN is an inspiration and motivation to young girls and women and will hopefully lead to West African governments implementation of the various affirmative action laws they have adopted.

Noting that these action laws were commendable, he however stressed the need for more women in leadership positions, saying the time for

rhetoric was over.
Guterres said, “This is a time to actualize women’s representation in leadership positions and indeed in all walks of life. Amina Mohammed is a known quantity. She has worked at a very high level in the UN and she did herself and her country Nigeria proud. She carried herself in a way that made Africa proud.

“She is a performer and an achiever. She is extremely discreet, focuses on her work, and we are very pleased that the Secretary General has given this position to an African, who has distinguished herself and works to achieve the objectives of the United Nations.”

Regional Policy Adviser, Governance, Peace and Security, Comfort Lamptey, said Mohammed’s appointment not only solidified Nigeria image globally as an important and strategic country, but will also support and inspire Nigerian women, in areas of leadership.

“The country has a long way to go in the inclusion of women in leadership positions. We hope it will inspire younger women in Nigeria to play more political roles and convince male leaders to recognize that women’s inclusion is important”, she said.