The United Nations in Nigeria, on Monday exhibited projects it implemented in the country as part of events to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the official creation of the world body.
The UN was established via the enforcement of the UN Charter on Oct. 24, 1945.
Mr Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident Coordinator Nigeria, represented by Dr Walter Mulombo, Country representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the day represented the global body’s reaffirmation of commitment to ensuring peace and prosperity for humanity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exhibition of the projects, which took place in Abuja was to highlight the impactful work done by its agencies and staff across Nigeria.
The UN Day 2022 is Themed: “The UN and Nigeria: Partnership for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.”
“The UN Charter, written amid the ashes of World War II, begins with the famous words: “We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind”
“This exhibition shows the strength of our partnership and the progress made under the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF), from 2018 until 2022.
“The UN has 24 agencies active in Nigeria, touching every state and the FCT that have produced some notable outcomes like the response to devastating floods by IOM, FAO, WFP, and others and the UNDP’s close partnership with the Benue State Government in establishing a peace and reconciliation commission.
“Also President Buhari launched the ‘Integrated National Financing Framework’ to improve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) funding with the support of a number of our agencies,” Mulombo said.
According to him, although Nigeria in 2022, still faces great challenges such as climate, conflict, and the Coronavirus, the UN system is still relevant because the reason for its establishment is to manage such challenges.
“On this day each year, we the peoples of the United Nations reaffirm our commitment to the organisation’s ideals and values and renew our mission to secure peace and prosperity for all of humanity.
“As the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said: ‘The United Nations was made for moments like this.
“Now, more than ever, we need to bring to life the values and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in every corner of the world’.
“In this corner of the world, the UN remains a committed partner to the government of Nigeria.
“We shall soon jointly sign a new Cooperation Framework re-establishing our strong support to the Government and the Nigerian people which will guide our work together for the next 5 years.
“The theme for this year’s UN Day is, thus, an apt one as the 2030 Agenda is our shared roadmap for meeting and achieving the development aspirations of the Nigeria people, whilealso reinforcing the ideals and values of the UN Charter.
“Our vision is to leave no one behind, especially the most vulnerable, and that all the people of this country contribute to and benefit from inclusive rights-based development.
“Through transformative initiatives we can catalyse a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
He also appreciated the courage, resilience, and commitment of the UN Nigeria staff to its mission and mandate despite the challenges they regularly face.
“I thank you all for your dedication and hard work over the past year.
“On UN Day 2022, let’s unite behind the ideals of the Charter, and live up to the full promise, potential, and hope of the United Nations.” Mulombo said. (NAN)