CSOs Hail Jimoh Ibrahim, Are’s Performance At UN, US

Accredited civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) have described the appointments of Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and Ambassador Kayode Are as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States as major diplomatic gains that have rapidly strengthened the country’s standing.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the director-general of the Civil Society Organisation on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI), Mr Kunle Yusuff, who said the two appointments had positioned Nigeria to exercise greater influence in both multilateral and bilateral diplomatic circles.

According to CSCHEI, the appointments signal Nigeria’s renewed relevance within the international community and demonstrate growing confidence in the country’s engagement with global institutions.

The organisation stated that the renewed acceptability of Nigeria within international partnership and funding structures showed that the country was “firmly” ly back on the global radar.

It also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing, as it described, individuals with extensive diplomatic experience and global networks to represent Nigeria at a critical period in the nation’s development.

CSCHEI said its assessment indicated that Nigeria could benefit from stronger executive-level relations with the United States and enhanced access to several United Nations agencies that could support the country’s development objectives.

Highlighting the performance of Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim since assuming office as Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 20 April 2026, the organisation noted that he ended a two-year vacancy in Nigeria’s substantive representation at the UN following the presentation of his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

It further pointed to his election as Chairman of the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee, the body responsible for overseeing the UN’s administration and human resources.

According to the statement, the development places a Nigerian in charge of one of the United Nations’ influential committees amid financial pressures and institutional reforms within the global body.

The civil society platform also credited Ambassador Ibrahim with advancing Nigeria’s position on United Nations Security Council reform and security challenges in the Sahel region.

It said he had reiterated Nigeria’s support for the creation of a permanent African seat on the Security Council, describing such representation as necessary for equitable global governance.

CSCHEI added that the Ambassador had continued to advance President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda on international platforms, presenting the reforms as measures to lay the foundation for long-term growth amid short-term challenges.

The organisation also cited what it described as strengthened protocol recognition for Nigeria’s representation at the United Nations, noting that UN officials arranged diplomatic courtesies ahead of Ambassador Ibrahim’s presentation of credentials.

On Ambassador Kayode Are, who assumed office as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States on 21 May 2026, CSCHEI said his presentation of credentials to United States President Donald Trump at the White House marked a significant milestone in Nigeria-US relations.

The organisation noted that the event featured official honours and represented the formal restoration of Nigeria’s ambassadorial presence in Washington after a prolonged vacancy.

According to CSCHEI, Ambassador ‘Are’Are’s appointment has already signalled opportunities for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the areas of security, economic development,t and international partnerships.

The organisation also highlighted his background as former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and former National Security Adviser, saying those experiences had equipped him to manage sensitive security and diplomatic engagements between both countries.

It added that he had established engagements with American institutions, improved information-sharing mechanisms and strengthened cooperation with law enforcement agencies on issues affecting Nigerians in the diaspora, including fraud and human trafficking.

The Ambassador was also credited with developing initiatives to address security concerns raised by American investors, a move CSCHEI said could improve investor confidence and encourage greater foreign direct investment in Nigeria.

The civil society body observed that Ambassador Are’Are’s appointment formed part of the Federal Government’s effort to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic representation across key international missions following the recall of ambassadors in 2023.

It argued that with Ambassador Ibrahim now leading the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and Ambassador Are securing direct access to the highest levels of the US government, Nigeria has strengthened its diplomatic influence in two of the world’s most important centres of global decision-making.

“With Ambassador Ibrahim, now chairing the UN Budget Committee, and Ambassador Are opening direct access at the White House, Nigeria has secured high-level advocacy at both the UN funding table and the US executive table within 60 days of their resumption,” the statement said.