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.

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.

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.

Meanwhile, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has expressed delight at the accreditation of the new Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof Tijjani Bande.

Mohammed was among those who received the new envoy when he presented his credentials to the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday evening.

The Deputy UN chief later hosted the new envoy and his team in a brief welcome meeting at her office.

Mohammed told Bande that there were a lot of expectations about Nigeria at the UN and the international community as a whole.

“You have a great mission with you and there are lots of expectations from the business and security concerns.

“On Africa – your (Nigeria’s) voice is very very important in Africa especially now that we are working at the UN with the African Union.

“The African Union Commission Chair has made it clear about his readiness to work with us.

“We are reforming the UN and at the same time that the AU is also reforming. So there is so much for us to attend to,” Mohammed said.

The UN deputy scribe said the world body would also need a lot to gain from Bande’s knowledge and experience from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) where he had served as Director-General.

She also recalled the Junior Professional Officers (JPO) programme in which Nigeria had opportunity to sponsor its youths for UN careers, but which the country had not participated for sometimes.

The JPO programme provides young professionals with hands-on experience in multilateral technical co-operation, and is one of the best ways to gain entry level positions within the UN system.

JPOs are sponsored by their own government, which fund their placement in one of a range of UN organisations.

“We started something with the JPO. I spoke with the President (Muhammadu Buhari) and Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo) about the programme.

“It was 37 positions – one for each of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. It is for the young people to come and grow in their career at the UN,” she said.

Responding, Bande pledged Nigeria’s commitment and support to the UN and the work of the global organisation.

The new UN Permanent Representative, who assumed office at the Nigeria’s Permanent Mission on Monday, also sought the support of the UN to the country where needed.

Bande 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.

NAN