Ahunna Eziakonwa
Ahunna Eziakonwa | |
|---|---|
 Ahunna Eziakonwa in 2025 | |
| Assistant Administrator and Regional Director | |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs University of Benin City, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Economist, Humanitarian |
Ahunna Eziakonwa is a United Nations assistant secretary-general and the U.N. Special Advisor for Africa. She previously served as United Nations Development Program assistant administrator and director, Regional Bureau for Africa.[1] Prior to her appointment on August 15, 2018, she was the United Nations Development Program's resident representative and humanitarian coordinator in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho.[2][3] She now serves as the UN Special Advisor for Africa.[4][5] In this role, she has called for unity and freedom of movement between the governments.[6][7] She has also emphasized free trade.[8] She has called for continued support to Africa by Europe.[9]
Early life and education
[edit]Ahunna was born in Nigeria.[10] She holds a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She also has a bachelor's in education from University of Benin Nigeria. She is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme where she gained knowledge in cutting-edge development thinking.[2][3]
Personal life
[edit]Ahunna is married and has a daughter.[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ "[TICAD at 30] Co-creating Africa's future: Interview with UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa ｜ News＆Publication - JICA". www.jica.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- 1 2 "Director's Corner". UNDP. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- 1 2 "Ahunna Eziakonwa | United Nations Development Programme". www.undp.org. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ↑ "UN chief appoints Nigerian diplomat new special adviser on Africa". Anadolu (in Turkish). 2026-06-13. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Ode to Ma' Ahunna Eziakonwa". UNDP. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Akhimien, Nosakhale (2026-07-08). "Xenophobia: UN Special Adviser On Africa Calls For Unity, Free Movement Across Continent". Channels Television. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "'Maybe Africa has answers that the whole world can learn from?' – MO*". MO* Magazine (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Oyediran, Tosin (2026-07-04). "UNDP, Lagos seek global markets for fashion, leather businesses". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Europe cannot afford to step back from Africa, warns UN development Africa chief". www.euronews.com. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- 1 2 "Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
