LASU don lauds UN over Ahonsi appointment

Dr Babatunde Akanni, of the Lagos State University (LASU) has commended the appointment of Mr Babatunde Ahonsi by the United Nations.

Akanni, Associate Professor, Department of Journalism, School of Communication, LASU, gave the commendation on Thursday in Lagos while speaking with the newsmen.

He described Ahonsi’s appointment as a most assertive endorsement for professionalism with distinction in international development work by the UN.

Supreme News reports that the Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday appointed Ahonsi as the UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye.

The appointment, which came with the host government’s approval, was announced on the webpage of the UN Sustainable Development Group.

According to Akanni, Ahonsi’s appointment complements those of other Nigerian professionals like Amina Mohammed, Adewunmi Adesina, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, amongst others.

“With an excellent track record of distinguished performance across both the private and public service, Ahonsi stands out to be a heavily credentialed Nigerian professional with a lot of lofty promises for Turkey, now a rising star in Europe.

“I have known Ahonsi for almost two decades during which time he has excelled as programme officer for the prestigious Ford Foundation before joining the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)”, Akanni said.

Ahonsi has 26 years of experience in international development, acquired inside and outside the UN system.

Prior to his current appointment, he served as the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, where he coordinated and facilitated the UN’s operational activities for development in the country.

During his tenure he led the UN country team and ensured system-wide accountability on the ground for the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

He has also coordinated UN support to Sierra Leone in its implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the UN Secretary General’s Prevention Agenda.

Prior to this, he served UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in China from June-September 2020.

In addition, he served as UNFPA Representative in China/Country Director for Mongolia from January 2017-June 2020, and as UNFPA Representative in Ghana from 2014-2016.

Between 1997 and 2014, he held senior management positions with the Ford Foundation, covering West Africa, and Population Council, covering Nigeria, overseeing reproductive health, women’s empowerment, and youth development programmes and initiatives.

He also lectured at federal universities in Ilorin, Calabar, and Lagos, during the 1980s and 1990s.

Ahonsi holds a BSc (First Class Honors) degree in Sociology from the University of Lagos; and a Ph.D. in Population Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, England.