Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has emerged the chairman of the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, popularly known as the Committee of 34 (C-34).
Ibrahim who took over the leadership of the committee from Canada, pledged to promote transparency, accountability and civilian protection.
He commended the outgoing chairman for his contribution to the work of the body.
The Nigerian envoy said under his leadership, the committee would continue to support efforts to strengthen international peace and security, particularly in tackling terrorism and other threats to global stability.
He stressed the need for counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations to remain focused on maintaining stability while protecting the interests and welfare of civilians.
Ibrahim’s emergence as chairman of the C-34 gives Nigeria leadership of two key United Nations committees.
He is also the chairman of the UN Fifth Committee, which is responsible for the organisation’s administrative and budgetary matters.
The development is significant for Nigeria, given the country’s longstanding contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and its advocacy for stronger multilateral cooperation in tackling global security challenges.
Speaking after assuming the new responsibility, Ibrahim expressed appreciation to Canada for its leadership of the committee and pledged to build on the progress already made.
He assured member states that his tenure would be guided by transparency, accountability and effective collaboration.
Ibrahim is serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The diplomat, lawyer and businessman is an alumnus of Harvard University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Obafemi Awolowo University, among other institutions.
His emergence as chairman of the two committees comes within his first 100 days in office as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, placing him at the centre of critical deliberations on peacekeeping operations, international security, administration and finances.
Nigeria’s leadership of the C-34 is expected to provide another platform for the country to contribute to global discussions on the future of UN peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, civilian protection and international security cooperation.