Nigeria's Amina Mohammed confirmed as new UN deputy Secretary-General

New United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday announced Nigeria’s Environment minister, Amina Mohammed as his Deputy Secretary-General (DSG).

Guterres made the announcement through Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman of the outgoing Secretary-General.

Guterres also announced the appointment of two other women into high-profile positions at the UN. Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil (Chef de Cabinet) and Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea as Special advisor on policy, a new role he intends to create.

“I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Ms. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet,” he said.

“I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action,” he added.

Amina Mohammed, the current Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

Nigeria’s AminaJMohammed appointed Deputy UN Secretary-General. pic.twitter.com/bIYuNS36Jc

— Kwabena (Kwabena) December 15, 2016

She is also the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mohammed is married and has six children.