The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that aims to promote peace, security, cooperation, and human rights among its member states. The UN has been a partner of Nigeria since its independence in 1960.
The benefits of the United Nations to Nigeria goes as far as humanitarian and development assistance, as well as peacekeeping support, to the country.
Humanitarian and Development Assistance
The UN has been supporting Nigeria to address its multifaceted challenges, such as the complex humanitarian situation in the northeast region, where armed conflict and insecurity have displaced millions of people and disrupted essential services.
The United Nations has also helped Nigeria to tackle other internal conflicts, such as the farmer-herder clashes in the middle belt and the Niger Delta crisis, by promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
The UN has also been a key partner in advancing Nigeria’s development goals, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063. The United Nations has provided technical and financial support to Nigeria in various sectors, such as health, education, nutrition, child protection, water and sanitation, gender equality, governance, human rights, and environmental protection.
The UN has also helped Nigeria to strengthen its data systems, capacities, technologies, and processes to better monitor and measure progress and guide policy interventions.
Some of the notable benefits of the United Nations in humanitarian and development assistance to Nigeria include:
- Providing life-saving assistance to over 5 million people affected by the humanitarian crisis in the northeast region in 2020.
- Supporting the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering medical supplies, equipment, and vaccines; raising awareness and providing information; enhancing testing and surveillance; strengthening infection prevention and control; and mitigating the socio-economic impact.
- Enhancing peace and social cohesion through the Resilience and Social Cohesion project, funded by the German Government, which targets over 500,000 conflict-affected people in Borno and Yobe states with livelihood opportunities, education, health, nutrition, child protection, and sanitation support.
- Improving maternal and child health outcomes by supporting the implementation of the Saving One Million Lives initiative, which aims to increase access to quality health services for women and children.
- Increasing school enrollment and retention rates by providing quality education for over 1.3 million children in conflict-affected areas through the Education Cannot Wait fund.
- Empowering women and girls by promoting gender equality and ending harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation through the Spotlight Initiative.
- Strengthening democratic governance and human rights by supporting electoral processes, constitutional reforms, anti-corruption efforts, access to justice, and civic engagement.
Peacekeeping Support
Nigeria has been a major contributor of troops and police to UN peace operations since the 1960s, having served in dozens of missions around the world.
Nigeria’s peacekeepers have helped to restore security, protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, monitor ceasefires, disarm combatants, support political processes, and build national capacities for peace.
Some of the notable achievements of Nigeria’s peacekeeping support include:
- Serving as the military backbone of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) from 2003 to 2018, which helped to end a brutal civil war and consolidate peace in the country.
- Playing a leading role in the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from 1999 to 2005, which helped to end a decade-long civil war and restore stability in the country.
- Participating in the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) since 2013, which helps to implement a peace agreement and counter terrorism threats in the country.
- Contributing to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) since 2011, which helps to protect civilians and support peacebuilding efforts in the country.
Conclusion
The UN has been a valuable ally of Nigeria in its quest for peace and development. The UN has provided humanitarian and development assistance to Nigeria in various sectors and areas, as well as peacekeeping support to other countries in need. The UN-Nigeria partnership is based on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. The UN remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s aspirations for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future.
