The United Nations has acknowledged Nigeria’s pioneering contribution to global disarmament diplomacy, revealing that a fellowship programme established through its initiative has trained more than 1,170 officials worldwide.

The UN also disclosed that financial difficulties prevented the programme from organising study visits to Africa and South America in 2026.

UN high representative for disarmament affairs Izumi Nakamitsu disclosed this during an award ceremony for the 2026 UN Disarmament Fellows in New York.

Addressing participants at the General Assembly’s First Committee, Ms Nakamitsu described the programme as one of the most enduring achievements of international disarmament cooperation.

She recalled that the initiative originated from Nigeria during the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament in 1978.

The recognition came months after Nigeria held the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, which reinforced the country’s longstanding involvement in multilateral arms-control diplomacy.

The UN official said the programme has trained more than 1,170 fellows from 173 member states since its establishment.

According to her, several generations of beneficiaries have subsequently occupied influential positions in international disarmament institutions.

She said former fellows were serving as diplomats, international civil servants, academics and civil society experts across major international diplomatic centres.

Ms Nakamitsu identified New York, Geneva, Vienna and The Hague among locations where alumni continued contributing to international arms-control negotiations and policymaking. She said the programme had particularly benefited developing countries seeking to strengthen their participation in complex disarmament negotiations.

The official noted that the training initiative had helped countries build institutional expertise in arms control, non-proliferation and international security. However, Ms Nakamitsu warned that the UN’s continuing financial difficulties were affecting the programme’s scope and geographical coverage.

She disclosed that the duration and scope of study visits organised for the 2026 fellows had been reduced.

The UN official regretted that the financial constraints prevented the programme from including visits to Africa and South America. She, nevertheless, maintained that the remaining study visits had provided valuable opportunities for participants to deepen their professional knowledge.

(NAN)