Tinubu to Recognize Nigerians' Contributions to the UN System

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu plans to award national honours to a select group of Nigerians who serve within the United Nations (UN) system, a move intended to recognise the country’s expanding influence in global diplomacy and international development.

During a dinner with members of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council–Nigeria Association at Nigeria House in New York, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, announced the initiative. He said it reflects the federal government’s renewed commitment to celebrating Nigerians who excel on the world stage.

According to Ibrahim, the forthcoming honours will recognise the “professionalism, sacrifice and outstanding contributions” of Nigerian nationals working across various UN agencies. Many of these individuals, he said, quietly shape international policy, humanitarian responses and administrative reforms within the global body.

He noted that Nigeria’s visibility within the UN system continues to grow, with its citizens occupying strategic positions in areas such as administration, budgeting, peace operations and development programming. Their performance, he added, has strengthened Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility and reinforced its long‑standing aspiration for a more influential role in global governance.

The announcement comes as the Tinubu administration expands the national honours framework. In recent years, the government has conferred awards on a wide range of recipients, including public officials, private‑sector leaders, cultural icons and members of the diaspora. The administration maintains that the honours system is being repositioned as a tool for national motivation and institutional excellence.

Ibrahim also hinted that Nigeria will intensify its advocacy for reforms at the United Nations, particularly regarding the structure of the Security Council, where African representation remains a central demand of the continent’s diplomatic agenda.

He added that President Tinubu is expected to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, where Nigeria’s foreign‑policy priorities and multilateral engagements will be prominently outlined.

The planned recognition of Nigerians within the UN system is expected to boost morale among the country’s international civil servants and underscore Abuja’s efforts to leverage diaspora expertise as part of its broader development and foreign‑policy strategy.