NEW YORK — United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership approach, noting that despite inheriting significant challenges, he has not publicly complained about the situation he met on assuming office.
Mohammed made the remarks at a special award dinner at Nigeria House in New York on the sidelines of events marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, including the annual Independence Day Parade and Carnival.
According to her, Tinubu’s determination to lead Nigeria was evident from the start, and his refusal to dwell on the problems left behind by his predecessor demonstrates his resolve to focus on solutions.
“President Tinubu fought hard to get to that seat — he even said it was his turn,” Mohammed said. “But he also told us he wasn’t going to complain about what he got. I have not heard him complain. People around him complain about what he inherited, but he doesn’t.”
The UN deputy chief emphasized that Tinubu’s presidency was not accidental but divinely ordained, urging Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to rally behind his administration.
“He is the president of Nigeria. It is God that put him on that seat. It is therefore incumbent upon us to get behind him and do the best we can for Nigeria. Unless you’re trying to tell me that God made a mistake,” she stated.
Mohammed congratulated Nigerians on the country’s 65th independence anniversary, describing the nation as a “work in progress” and calling on citizens to be active participants in building the country rather than critics tearing it down.
“Unless you are part of building a nation, no one else is going to do it for you. If we get into the pull-down syndrome, then who else is going to pull us up? Nigerians are the hardest working, most ambitious, and proud people,” she said.
The former Nigerian Minister of Environment also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to return home not only as visitors but as stakeholders and investors, contributing their expertise and resources to national development.
Mohammed, whose second term as deputy to UN Secretary-General António Guterres ends on December 31, 2025, said she looks forward to returning to Nigeria to contribute to Africa’s progress.
“I hope that all of you will pray for my safe return home again next year because there are things to do at home and on the continent. We have to go back and shape that future,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of the country’s youth, who make up about 70% of Nigeria’s population, Mohammed called for intergenerational dialogue, mentorship, and empowerment.
“We have to listen to them and push them further. The older generation must give the youth a chance by standing beside them with wisdom and experience,” she noted.
She also stressed the critical role of women in peacebuilding and development, warning that Nigeria cannot reach its full potential while excluding half of its population from contributing meaningfully.
“Nigeria is flying on half a wing. The other wing has to be lifted for us to fly higher. Women count — whether professional women, rural women, or women in politics — we must not lose the other half,” Mohammed said.
In a final remark, she commended the Nigerian government for introducing Chinese language into the national curriculum, describing it as a forward-looking move given China’s global role in trade.
