Sept. 20, 2021

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande says Nigeria is a strong voice on the global stage and has been a pre-eminent regional voice for Africa.

Muhammad-Bande told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the world had also been listening to Nigeria’s voice on the global stage.

He cited the likes of the Director-General of World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the President of African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina among others.

“We have a voice that is listened to. We have seen Dr Okonjo-Iweala; it is an attestation of what Nigeria can do. We have also seen how Adesina has done extremely well,’’ the envoy said.

“Nigeria has also given a voice to Africa’s issues and third world nations in relation to peace, justice and development.

“Nigeria, therefore, has a very important role to play at the global debates as a Member State, as a country in West Africa and as a country in Africa.’’

Muhammad-Bande, who was elected President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, was the second Nigerian to attain the position while Nigeria was one of only three countries to have held the position twice.

He said Nigeria had given a voice to African issues and would continue to reiterate its calls for global issues like counter-terrorism in the region and around the world.

The envoy said Nigeria had been participating in various UN General Assembly activities since it joined the organisation in 1960 soon after the country gained independence. (NAN)