The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has appointed another Nigerian, Damilola Ogunbiyi as his Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy.
Penpushing reports that, Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of the top position while another Nigerian, Amina Mohammed, is currently serving as the Deputy Secretary-General of the world body.
The new appointee succeeds Rachel Kyte of the United Kingdom as Special Representative, Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SEforALL, while the Secretary-General expresses his gratitude to Kyte for her dedication and commitment to the United Nations.
The statement from New York in its gratitude noted her (Kyte) achievements in accelerating universal energy access, and her leadership in advancing sustainable energy transition in the context of the Paris Agreement.
Penpushing also reports that, Ogunbiyi is to bring extensive leadership experience and a track record of supporting energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa to these roles, and was the first woman to be appointed as Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency.
The Special Representative is also responsible for implementing the Nigerian Off Grid Electrification Programme and successfully negotiating the Nigerian Electrification Project, to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria.
Penpushing reports that, she also developed the Energizing Economics Initiative and Energizing Education Programme, which provide sustainable and affordable off grid power solutions, and before joining the Federal Government of Nigeria, she was the first woman to be appointed as the General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board which is responsible for public lighting, independent power projects, and energy development serving millions of people across the State.
The appointee prior to this, consulted for the United Kingdom Department for International Development on Public-Private Partnerships, and she is a globally respected leader with a broad and diverse international network in the area of energy development, which includes key relationships with leading multilateral and bilateral partners and the private sector. She is also one of the Commissioners for the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty.
Penpushing further reports that her appointment comes as the world is about to enter the final decade to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. SEforALL is an international organization, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, that is dedicated to helping the world achieve SDG7 and Paris Agreement targets.
Penpushing further reports that the world body in the statement stated that, SEforALL continues to have close ties to the United Nations through an existing relationship agreement, partnerships with United Nations agencies and Ogunbiyi’s roles as Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy.
