The African Policy and Research Consortium (APRC), a pan-African think tank, has thrown its weight behind Nigerian Akasoba Duke-Abiola, who is 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.

Edward Agbai, the APRC deputy executive-coordinator, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja in the organisation’s nomination letter for Ms Duke-Abiola for the UN office.

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 December 31, 2026.

According to him, the APRC appreciates the communication received through the Nigerian national think tank and the nomination of Ms Duke-Abiola, widow of the late prominent politician M.K.O. Abiola, for consideration for the UN-revered seat.

Mr 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 for candidates for secretary-general are formally presented by UN Member States, which begin with the submission of a candidate’s name to the president of the UN Security Council.

The council would also consider all nominated candidates and recommend one candidate to the UN General Assembly for appointment as the secretary-general.

This, according to him, for a Nigerian, the authority to submit such a 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.

He underscored the need for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination and endorsement to bolster support for a qualified Nigerian and African candidature, especially with the nation’s bid for the UN Security Council seat.

In the same vein, presenting Ms Duke-Abiola would affirm Nigeria’s readiness to put forward a candidate of formidable intellectual, governmental and diplomatic stature to the international community, he noted.

He added that for Africa, her candidature would represent the continent not as a passive recipient of international policy, but as a source of global leadership, ideas, mediation, institutional wisdom and moral authority.

Ms Duke-Abiola is a Nigerian law professor, human rights activist, and stateswoman of diplomacy, security, sustainable development, and transformative global leadership. 

(NAN)