NEW YORK — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Friday the appointment of veteran Nigerian diplomat Ahunna Eziakonwa as his new Special Adviser on Africa.

Eziakonwa, a seasoned international civil servant with nearly three decades of experience within the UN system, succeeds Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde in the prestigious role.

A Proven Track Record in African Development

Before this appointment, Eziakonwa served as the Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In this capacity, she provided strategic leadership for development support across 46 African nations.

Since joining the UNDP in 2018, she has been instrumental in aligning the agency’s economic and political strategies with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Extensive Humanitarian and Political Experience

Eziakonwa’s career is defined by her deep engagement with Africa’s complex geopolitical landscape. Her extensive resume includes:

  • Leadership Roles: She has served as UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho.

  • Operational Expertise: As Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), she directed humanitarian operations spanning 15 countries.

  • Diverse Assignments: She has held strategic positions in Liberia and Sierra Leone and worked extensively with the UN Departments of Peacekeeping Operations, Political Affairs, and Public Information.

Academic and Linguistic Background

Eziakonwa holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy, English, and Literary Studies from the University of Benin, Nigeria. A polyglot, she is fluent in English, Igbo, and Yoruba, and possesses a working knowledge of French, assets that have been vital throughout her career in facilitating dialogue across diverse African regions.