After over 10 months since her assumption of office, last week Thursday, 5th May, 2022, Her Excellency, Dr. Hajo Sani, OON, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO was officially welcomed to UNESCO.
As customary, a welcome reception is organized following the resumption of a new Ambassador, however, due to health measures put in place by the French Government as a result of Covid19, the Delegation was unable to host the reception.
The reception which lasted for about 2 hours had over 100 guests in attendance including Mr. Aminu Abdulkadir, Deputy Head of Mission, who represented Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, H.E. Kayode Laro, H.E. Mr. Alexander Kuznetsov, Ambassador of Russia to UNESCO, Madame, Jirina VALENTOVA, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Czech Republic, H. E. Mrs. Anna Bossman, Ambassador of Ghana to UNESCO, H.E. Mr. Tebogo Seokolo, Ambassador of South Africa to UNESCO, H.E. Madame Rachel Annick OGOULA AKIKO, Ambassador of Gabon to UNESCO, H.E. Magdalena Marcinkowska, Permanent representative of Poland to UNESCO etc., some UNESCO Staff and several other dignitaries.
The Ambassador in her remarks, while appreciating all the guests for honoring the invitation, also expressed profound gratitude to the staff of the Delegation for the warm reception she received when she arrived and the commitment of the entire staff in pursuing its purpose for the benefit of Nigeria. Furthermore, she informed that the Nigerian Delegation will continue to contribute its quota to the development of UNESCO.
Speaking further, she mentioned that “UNESCO does have the impetus, through its very nature as the only UN specialized agency with multiple mandates to tackle the interwoven character of human development.” She added that taking a close look at the Medium Term Strategy, Programme and Budget, which was adopted last year, “shows a very strong reliance of the SDGs as the basis.” Also, the “significance of SDGs as a result framework, reinforcing policy coherence and “delivering as one” approach resonates UNESCO’s commitment to effectiveness going forward, notably, the two global priorities: Africa and Gender, which are well integrated in the core activities in the different sectors and Nigeria is particularly happy with this development and is set to cooperate with UNESCO in that spirit as it implements the programmes for the next circle of 2 years policy document.”
She took the opportunity to inform guests of Nigeria’s intention to present its candidature to the Executive Board of UNESCO in 2023.
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