Ojukwu vs Mohammed: Nigeria’s Bid for UN Secretary-General Role
Speculation is growing that Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, and Amina Mohammed, the UN deputy secretary-general, are both eyeing the United Nations secretary-general position as Antonio Guterres’s term draws to a close. In the early 1990s, when Peruvian diplomat Javier Pérez de Cuéllar delayed his departure, Western nations argued Africa wasn’t ready to lead the UN. Back home, critics dismissed President Obasanjo’s own bid for the top post. Nevertheless, General Ibrahim Babangida rallied continental support while diplomats like Ibrahim Gambari and Ike Nwachuku lobbied across Asia, Europe and at the UN. Their efforts opened the door for Boutros Boutros-Ghali and later Kofi Annan to break the barrier. With Nigeria now potentially fielding its first female candidate for this landmark role, analysts are revisiting the country’s prospects in the global race.
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