AfDB boss, Akinwunmi Adesina, bags UN appointment

The United Nations (UN), Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has appointed the president of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, alongside 21 other esteemed leaders, to spearhead the battle against malnutrition.

As part of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Lead Group. Dr. Adesina was appointed alongside two fellow Nigerians, Mansur Muhtar, Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, and Ms. Ndidi Nwuneli, Executive Chair of Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Guterres on Friday.

The statement reads, “Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of disease and death globally — a major threat to children. Conflicts, crises, COVID-19, and climate change all threaten to reverse hard-won gains if we don’t get back on track.

“The SUN Movement is working to raise awareness of nutrition as both a marker and a driver of sustainable development — and to spur new investment and action.

“I look forward to working with these leaders to reignite a global movement to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030,” Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director and Chair of the SUN Movement Lead Group, he said.

Similarly, Afshan Khan, SUN Movement Coordinator said that the 65 SUN countries in the Movement had been working tirelessly to keep nutrition high on their national agendas in the face of multiple crises.

“It is time to reinvest our leadership, resources and collective action behind SUN countries’ national nutrition plans to ensure that malnutrition in all its forms is adequately addressed.

“I am confident that by leveraging their expertise and authority, we can deliver inspiring results.”

NAN