The African Policy and Research Consortium (APRC), a pan-African think tank, has endorsed Nigerian law professor and diplomat, Professor Akasoba Duke-Abiola, for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The endorsement was conveyed in a nomination letter signed by the APRC Deputy Executive Coordinator, Professor Edward Agbai, and made available to journalists in Abuja.
The backing comes as the process to select a successor to the incumbent UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, gathers momentum ahead of the expiration of his tenure on December 31, 2026.
According to Agbai, “the consortium received communication through the Nigerian National Think Tank regarding the nomination of Duke-Abiola for consideration for the prestigious global office.”
He described Duke-Abiola as a distinguished Nigerian whose wealth of experience in law, diplomacy, human rights advocacy and sustainable development makes her well-suited for the position.
“We commend your distinguished record of public service and your willingness to serve the international community at the highest level,” Agbai said.
He said that: “The office of the Secretary-General is one of the most significant leadership positions in global governance, requiring not only exceptional personal qualifications but also the formal backing of a Member State of the United Nations.”
Agbai explained that, under the UN selection process, candidates for the office of Secretary-General are formally nominated by member states through the submission of their names to the President of the UN Security Council.
“The Security Council considers all duly nominated candidates and recommends one candidate to the United Nations General Assembly for appointment as Secretary-General,” he said.
He noted that for a Nigerian candidate, the constitutional responsibility for forwarding such a nomination rests solely with the appropriate diplomatic and constitutional authorities of the Federal Government.
According to him, Duke-Abiola’s candidature presents an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its international standing while reinforcing its quest for greater representation within the United Nations, including support for Africa’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
“The presentation of Prof. Duke-Abiola as Nigeria’s candidate would affirm the country’s readiness to put forward a personality of formidable intellectual, governmental and diplomatic stature,” Agbai said.
He further stressed that her candidacy would provide Africa with an opportunity to demonstrate its capacity for global leadership.
“For Africa, her candidature would represent the continent not as a passive recipient of international policy, but as a source of global leadership, ideas, mediation, institutional wisdom and moral authority,” he said.
Professor. Duke-Abiola is a Nigerian law professor, human rights advocate and stateswoman with extensive experience in diplomacy, security, sustainable development and global leadership.
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