Nigeria’s UN Ambassador presents credentials to UN Secretary-General

Prof. Tijjani Bande, the new Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, on Wednesday, presented his Letter of Credence to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York reports that Bande presented his credentials on Wednesday evening at a brief ceremony at the office of the Secretary-General.

Receiving the Nigerian envoy, Guterres commended the pre-eminent place that Nigeria occupied particularly on the African continent.

“Nigeria is a very very important country,” the Secretary-General said with delight in a brief remarks.

He pointed out that Nigeria was needed by the UN to build on the progress the global organisation was already making on the continent.

Guterres pledged that the UN and Nigeria would work cooperatively to advance peace and sustainable development on the continent.

NAN reports that Bande was received by Guterres alongside the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

After the receiving Bande’s credentials, Guterres, supported by Mohammed, then hosted the new ambassador and his team to a brief closed-door meeting.

The new envoy was accompanied by Nigeria’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Samson Itegboje; Head of Chancery, Dr Cyprian Heen; and the Mission’s Spokesperson Akinremi Bolaji.

Bande, who assumed office at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN on Monday, was the immediate past Director-General of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos, until Feb. 25, 2017.

He replaced Prof. Joy Ogwu, who held the position from 2008 to 2015.

Bande’s appointment was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 31.