The African Policy and Research Consortium (APRC), a Pan-African think tank, has thrown its weight behind Nigerian, Prof. 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.
Prof. Edward Agbai, APRC’s Deputy Executive-Coordinator, disclosed this in the organisation’s nomination letter of Duke-Abiola’s for the UN’s office, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.
The tenure of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which is due to end on 31 December 2026.
According to him, APRC appreciated the communication received through the Nigerian National Think Tank nomination of Duke-Abiola, widow of the late prominent politician M.K.O. Abiola for consideration to the UN’s revered seat.
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 of candidates for secretary-general are formally presented by UN Member States, which begins with submission of a candidate’s name to the President of the UN Security Council.
Also, that the Council would consider all nominated candidates and recommend one candidate to the UN General Assembly, that would then appoint 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 qualified Nigerian and African candidature, especially with the nation’s bid for the UN Security Council seat.
In the same vein, the presentation of Duke-Abiola would affirm Nigeria’s readiness to place before the international community a candidate of formidable intellectual, governmental and diplomatic stature.
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.
Duke-Abiola is a Nigerian law professor, human rights activist, stateswoman of diplomacy, security, sustainable development, transformative global leadership.
