UN deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed has concluded a multi-state visit to Nigeria, commending Ogun and Imo governments for advancing women’s empowerment and digital innovation.

Ms Mohammed particularly highlighted initiatives promoting women’s economic empowerment, healthcare, youth innovation and technology-driven development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, disclosed this on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York.

He said Ms Mohammed commended both governments for “advancing inclusive development, women’s empowerment, healthcare, youth innovation and digital transformation aligned with the SDGs”.

The visit provided the UN deputy chief an opportunity to assess development initiatives and interact directly with beneficiaries, political leaders and young Nigerian innovators.

Accompanied by members of the UN country team, Ms Mohammed also met former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the visit. She also held separate engagements with Governor Dapo Abiodun and Governor Hope Uzodimma.

In Ogun, Ms Mohammed interacted with the beneficiaries of the World Bank-supported Nigeria for Women Programme. The programme seeks to strengthen economic opportunities for women, particularly those facing barriers to finance, markets and sustainable livelihoods.

Ogun authorities said about 100,000 women had benefited from the programme, which the state described as an important instrument for combating poverty and strengthening families.

The engagement reinforced Ms Mohammed’s long-standing advocacy that women’s economic participation must remain central to inclusive and sustainable development.

In Imo, the UN deputy chief turned attention to technology, entrepreneurship and opportunities being created by Nigeria’s growing population of young innovators.

“She met young innovators developing technology solutions such as AI applications, drones, e-commerce platforms and e-governance tools,” Mr Haq said.

The engagement complemented Ms Mohammed’s earlier visit to the UNDP-supported Imo Digital City, where she examined initiatives promoting digital skills, innovation and employment.

During the Imo leg last week, Ms Mohammed also joined Nigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to launch a nationwide economic empowerment programme for vulnerable women.

The initiative is expected to help beneficiaries build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen resilience against economic and social vulnerabilities.

After her engagements in Ogun and Imo, Ms Mohammed travelled to Lagos on Sunday for an Africa-Diaspora Leadership Programme.

The programme brought together emerging African and diaspora leaders around discussions on building stronger institutions, businesses and productive capacity across the continent.

At the programme, Ms Mohammed challenged Africa to move beyond simply demanding representation in global affairs to building the economic and institutional power required to shape decisions.

“We can no longer be the people who are profited from. You have to own what it is that is your power,” she told participants at the programme.

The gathering also examined how African businesses, finance, innovation, technology, and diaspora networks could help build globally competitive institutions and enterprises.

Ms Mohammed, a Nigerian and former Minister of Environment, is also chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.

She played a leading role in developing the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs before becoming UN deputy secretary-general in 2017.

(NAN)