By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the United Nations and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja when the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, paid him a courtesy visit.
Enikanolaiye commended the United Nations for its sustained support to Nigeria through its various agencies, funds and programmes, describing the organization as a strategic partner in humanitarian action, development cooperation and peacebuilding.
He particularly acknowledged the UN’s interventions in difficult and vulnerable communities across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
“For us as a country, we value our relationship with the United Nations. We participate actively in the maintenance of international peace and security and in advancing the other purposes for which the UN was established,” the minister said.
He added that Nigeria would continue to support the organization because its programmes and interventions contribute to the wellbeing of Nigerians and the country’s development.
“I wish to pledge our total support for the United Nations,” he stated.
The minister, however, called for innovative approaches to address the challenge of dwindling resources for humanitarian and development activities.
He advocated stronger partnerships with the private sector and the exploration of alternative funding mechanisms to ensure sustainable development and effective humanitarian responses.
Earlier, Fall, who is expected to conclude his assignment in Nigeria later this year, described the country as his second home after nearly a decade of service, first with UNICEF and subsequently as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
He commended Nigeria for its longstanding contributions to the UN, noting that the country had remained not only a committed member state but also a strong advocate of the ideals of the organization.
Fall recalled Nigeria’s historic role in regional peacekeeping, particularly through the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), describing it as evidence of the country’s leadership in promoting peace and security in West Africa and beyond.
