The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, met with Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, in Abuja on Friday as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and accelerate Nigeria’s development agenda.
The meeting, held at the minister’s office, was also attended by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.
A statement issued by Mohammed Manga, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Finance, noted that the visit was part of the UN’s initiative to enhance collaboration with Nigeria on key issues such as regional stability, economic growth, and social protection.
During the discussions, the two officials focused on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to boost Nigeria’s trade and economic relations across Africa.
They also addressed strategies for improving food security, enhancing social protection systems to meet the socio-economic needs of Nigerians, and exploring ways the UN could mobilize resources and expertise to support Nigeria’s development goals.
Minister Edun expressed his gratitude to Amina Mohammed for her continued engagement with Nigeria.
He highlighted progress in the administration’s social safety programs, particularly the digitalization of the Direct Benefit Transfers initiative, which aims to improve efficiency and transparency. The minister also mentioned improvements in agriculture, particularly in wet and dry season farming, thanks to targeted government support.
Amina Mohammed was accompanied by a high-level UN delegation, including Leonardo Simão, UN Special Representative; Sa’adatu Shuaibu, UN Political Affairs Officer; Zubaida Mahmoud, UN Representative; and Sergio Mate, UN Special Assistant.
The meeting was seen as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s partnership with the UN, laying the foundation for enhanced cooperation on critical development issues. As Nigeria continues on its development path, the expertise and support from the UN will play a key role in achieving the country’s goals.
