Okonjo-Iweala gets United Nations job

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was on Tuesday selected by the United Nations to participate in a worldwide effort to address child malnutrition, a day after she was interviewed by the World Bank board for the post of the president of the global financial institution.

Okonjo-Iweala and 26 other global leaders were picked for the job by the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

An announcement by the UN Department of Public Information, said Ban appointed 27 individuals, including some heads of state and other reputable individuals to focus on improving nutrition as key to progress in health and development.

The group is to represent the many countries, organisations and sectors working to improve nutrition, and serve as strategic guides for the global movement. It is also expected to scale up nutrition, which is committed to advancing the strength and security of nations by improving maternal and child nutrition.

SUN is a global push for action and investment to improve maternal and child nutrition.

“Never before have so many leaders from so many countries and fields agreed to work together to improve nutrition,” said Ban.

He explained that “the SUN movement gives all of us, including the UN, an opportunity to support countries in their efforts to end hunger and malnutrition.”

Okonjo-Iweala will be joining the lead group, which includes heads of state from countries that have prioritised efforts to scale up nutrition, as well as representatives of the donor, civil society, business and UN system organisations that are aligning resources to help SUN countries drive progress.