Five books in honour of Amina Mohammed, Deputy UN Secretary General

Ifirst met Amina Mohammed at the Action Aid HQ in Abuja many years ago when we were both invited to serve as steering committee members of Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF) managed by Action Aid International. She had come in representing Civil Society and I was invited by my friend Dr. Nguyan Feese to join as a representative of the Media. It was indeed an excellent mixture of some of the finest brains in the land to include the late Professor Jadesola Akande, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Dr. Nguyan Feese, Amina Mohammed and Dr. Ubani who was Country Director before Otive. Save the Children’s Fund representative was also a member. Action Aid continues to attract the finest minds, Dr Hussain Abdu former Country director and after him Ojobo Atuluku current Country Director.

Amina walked into the first meeting like a breeze, her smile warm, her brain on fire. Her gaze always fixed on any speaker at a meeting, her brow slightly creased and she is an amazing listener who gives you her full attention. We got along on that committee taking note of NGO’s with interest in education and supporting them with grants from the Commonwealth Education Fund which Her Majesty the Queen of England was also supporting. It was an incredible time of our lives. Amina’s work and interest in the development world, in education, in mentoring and in Nigeria hone through and even after our tenure ended we remained friends and sisters.

There were no surprises when she became Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to President Jonathan on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) serving afterwards as undersecretary at the UN.

Cheerful with a hearty laughter among her friends, she does not suffer fools gladly at her workplace; firm, empathetic and a stickler for details, an asset to any nation or organisation. Amina went on to become our beloved Minister of Environment, a position she locked down admirably. It was from here that she was again invited to the UN to become the Deputy UN Secretary General; a worthy position for a woman after my heart.

Two days before her departure we all sat down to an informal get-together organised by Dr. Mairo Mandara, Country Director Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and Moji Makanjuola, veteran broadcaster. It was a night to remember, hugs, good food, laughter, testimonies and a dancing Deputy UN Secretary General with all her friends.

As Amina settles on the 53rd floor of the UN House in New York, this is wishing her a most successful tenure and God’s protection as she makes Nigeria proud.

Here are five books in honour of the Deputy UN Secretary General, my sister and friend Amina Mohammed.