UN Global Compact Network Nigeria Celebrates New UN DSG, HE Amina J

Mohammed

It was a night of bliss for the newly appointed Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations,

Her Excellency, Amina J. Mohammed, Honourable Minister of Environment, as she was

celebrated by the Global Compact Network Nigeria, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, on Thursday,

19th January, 2017.

L-R: Bola Adesola, H.E. Mallam Ibrahim Jibril, H.E. Aisha Alhassan, Dr Oba Otudeko, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed,

H.E. Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Herbert Wigwe.

The event began with a prayer by Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria and then the

welcome address by the co-chair of the Local Network Mr Laoye Jaiyeola, Chief Executive Officer,

Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

The welcome address was followed by a short presentation titled “United Nations Global

Compact (UNGC) Local Network: The Now and the Future” by the co-chair of the Local Network

Ms. Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head of Sustainability, Access Bank Plc, which provided a

summary of the progress of the network till date and the opportunities for growth, going forward.

Victor-Laniyan gave a brief introduction of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) as the

world's largest corporate sustainability initiative with over 12,000 signatories in 170 countries.

Victor-Laniyan also stated that the initiative is a call to organisations to align their strategies and

operations to all aspects of corporate sustainability including human rights, labour, environment

and anti-corruption. Victor-Laniyan explained the role of the local networks who help to

coordinate the activities of the initiative within countries as being crucial to holisitic global

progress in business’ adoption of best practice. Victor-Laniyan stated that the UNGC Network

Nigeria was launched in 2006 and has been hosted by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and

is also managed by a Steering Committee made up of business and civil society organisations

including FBN Holdings, Oando PLC, NESG, Access Bank, MTN Nigeria, CSR-in-Action, SME Funds

and Knewrow Resources. She also stated that the Local Network has a membership of 120

participants, with the top 5 sectors being, support services; general industrials; financial services;

general retailers; and oil equipment, services and distribution. Victor-Laniyan then used the

opportunity to call on other organisations that are yet to join the network, to sign up and adopt

the principles of the initiative which are in line with the globally acclaimed Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs). In trying to encourage organisations to join the network and adopting

the mandate of the SDGs, Victor-Laniyan mentioned that even the celebrant, Mohammed, views

the SDGs as children that should be protected and attended to.

L-R: Bekeme Masade, Olajobi Makinwa, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Uto Ukpanah.

The celebrant was also showered with congratulatory messages from several dignitaries

including Olajobi Makinwa, Chief, Africa at UN Global Compact: who described the celebrant as

an exemplary leader, who can be looked up to by other women who are aspiring to achieve great

heights in life; Bola Adesola, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria: who

acknowledged that Mohammed through her career has continuously shattered concrete ceilings

and prayed that she would excel in her new role; Dr. Oba Otudeko, Founder and Chairman,

Honeywell Group and Chairman FBNHoldings: who called the celebrant a quintessential woman;

Her Excellency, Aisha Alhassan, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs: who reiterated that

Mohammed is an inspiration to other women and young girls in the country; His Excellency,

Rotimi Amaechi, Honourable Minister of Transportation: who described her as a very good

woman; Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc: who stated that the

appointment of the celebrant as the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, is a

remarkable achievement not only for a woman, but for men, too. His Excellency, Mallam Ibrahim

Jibril, Honourable Minister of State for Environment also praised his boss as a credible leader,

who has wisely guided the Ministry of Environment to becoming a leading ministry in Nigeria

today. All congratulatory messages pointed to Mohammed’s servant leadership, big-

heartedness, and visionary drive for success.

Some other dignitaries present at the event include Bola Adesola, MD/CEO, Standard Chartered

Bank Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, MD, Shell Nigeria Plc., Foluso Phillips, Founder and Chairman,

Phillips Consulting Limited.

Following the final congratulatory message by Wigwe, the co-compere of the event, Chief

Executive, CSR-in-Action, and member of the steering committee, Bekeme Masade, called on

Mohammed to join Wigwe on stage to be presented with a specially designed appreciatory

plaque.

L-R: Dr. Herbert Wigwe, GMD, Access Bank Plc and H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, HMoE/DSG-UN.

Then came the big moment, when the celebrant herself, Her Excellency, Amina J. Mohammed,

took the stage to address the audience. Mohammed spoke with the eloquence for which she is

known. Mohammed expressed her gratitude to the Local Network Steering Committee who

graciously put together the wonderful event in her honour. She admonished organisations to

fully commit to the achievement of the SDGs and also used the opportunity to elucidate on the

activities of the Ministry of Environment with particular emphasis on the sale of green bonds at

the Nigeria Stock Exchange. Mrs. Amina was sure to mention that her many years of success is as

a result of working with many brilliant minds, without whom she would not have gotten to where

she is today. Mrs. Amina’s speech also stressed the need to be hardworking and consistent, as

well as the need to promote and support women at the workplace. She encouraged business

leaders to give not only women, but the younger generation a chance at handling the reins, and

mentioned a humorous story of a bold young man who found his way into her office and

presumed to guide her on how to run her office as Minister of Environment; the audacity of which

she applauds. Mohammed ended her speech by thanking and praying for all who graced the

occasion to be successful in their personal lives.

The business leaders at the event who came from diverse spheres of the private and public

sectors, as well as men from the media, were entertained with pleasant music, food and other

merriment.

L-R: Olajobi Makinwa, Bola Adesola, H.E. Mallam Ibrahim Jibril, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Dr. Herbert

Wigwe, Dr Oba Otudeko, H.E. Aisha Alhassan.

The event was summed up with closing remarks and prayer from Ayotola Jagun, Chief

Compliance Officer and Company Secretary of Oando PLC, who is also a member of the Steering

Committee. Ms. Ayotola heaped more praises on the celebrant and thanked everyone present at

the event.

The dinner was sponsored by the Steering Committee lead by Access Bank Plc and FBN Holdings.