Buhari nominated Osotimehin for 2-year extension at UN – Minister

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, on Friday said
President Muhammadu Buhari nominated late Prof. Babatunde
Osotimehin for two-year extension of his service at the UN shortly
before his death.

Onyeama stated this in Abuja at a memorial service for
Osotimehin organised by the UN.
He said that Nigeria was proud of the late professor, and pointed
out that he diligently served the country and the international
community.

He said that the country had to write a letter to the UN
Secretary General, Antonio Guterres to retain late Osotimehin in
his team.

“Two months ago, I actually had to write a letter to the UN
Secretary-General at the instruction and encouragement of Mr
President and the Acting President.

“The letter was to inform him that Nigeria was immensely proud
of what Osotimehin was doing for the past six years.

“And, that we will appreciate very much since he has the right
to appoint his team, to retain him for the next two years,” he
said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osotimehin was
appointed the UNFPA Executive Director in November, 2010 for a
four-year term, which was renewed in 2014.

He was also until his death on June 4, Under Secretary-General
of the UN.

Prior to joining the UN, late Osotimehin was Nigeria’s Minister
of Health.

He was also the Director-General of the National Agency for the
Control of AIDS after nurturing it as National Action Committee on
AIDS, which he managed as chairman.

Onyeama said that Ostimehin had laid a legacy in the health
sector and projected the image of the nation at the international
scene.

“We are here not to mourn but to celebrate a great Nigerian’s
life – a former Minister of Health, who dedicated his life not only
to our fatherland but to humanity,” he said.

According to him, any nation on earth would be proud to have him
as one of their own.

The minister said that it was not surprising that international
community appointed him as Executive Director of United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA).

He said that since his passing on, the narrative about his
contribution to global health had been wonderful “and even this
morning people were talking about his humility’’.

“I want to place on record our immense gratitude to the
international community f‎or giving him the opportunity to serve
the world in the capacity of Executive Director and Under-Secretary
of UN.

“As Minister of Health, he mobilised all the ministries of the
36 states of the federation to build and developed health plan that
focused on primary healthcare.

“He ensured that medical institutions in Nigeria treat gun shots
and accident victims before any other thing. He was an advocate of
reproductive health and reproductive rights,” Onyeama said.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, on Friday said
President Muhammadu Buhari nominated late Prof. Babatunde
Osotimehin for two-year extension of his service at the UN shortly
before his death.

Onyeama stated this in Abuja at a memorial service for
Osotimehin organised by the UN.
He said that Nigeria was proud of the late professor, and pointed
out that he diligently served the country and the international
community.

He said that the country had to write a letter to the UN
Secretary General, Antonio Guterres to retain late Osotimehin in
his team.

“Two months ago, I actually had to write a letter to the UN
Secretary-General at the instruction and encouragement of Mr
President and the Acting President.

“The letter was to inform him that Nigeria was immensely proud
of what Osotimehin was doing for the past six years.

“And, that we will appreciate very much since he has the right
to appoint his team, to retain him for the next two years,” he
said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osotimehin was
appointed the UNFPA Executive Director in November, 2010 for a
four-year term, which was renewed in 2014.

He was also until his death on June 4, Under Secretary-General
of the UN.

Prior to joining the UN, late Osotimehin was Nigeria’s Minister
of Health.

He was also the Director-General of the National Agency for the
Control of AIDS after nurturing it as National Action Committee on
AIDS, which he managed as chairman.

Onyeama said that Ostimehin had laid a legacy in the health
sector and projected the image of the nation at the international
scene.

“We are here not to mourn but to celebrate a great Nigerian’s
life – a former Minister of Health, who dedicated his life not only
to our fatherland but to humanity,” he said.

According to him, any nation on earth would be proud to have him
as one of their own.

The minister said that it was not surprising that international
community appointed him as Executive Director of United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA).

He said that since his passing on, the narrative about his
contribution to global health had been wonderful “and even this
morning people were talking about his humility’’.

“I want to place on record our immense gratitude to the
international community f‎or giving him the opportunity to serve
the world in the capacity of Executive Director and Under-Secretary
of UN.

“As Minister of Health, he mobilised all the ministries of the
36 states of the federation to build and developed health plan that
focused on primary healthcare.

“He ensured that medical institutions in Nigeria treat gun shots
and accident victims before any other thing. He was an advocate of
reproductive health and reproductive rights,” Onyeama said.