Amina Mohammed, Edun Hold Talks On Nigeria’s Economic Growth

The United Nations deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed has held talks with Nigeria’s minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, on ways to strengthen the nation’s fiscal positions to ensure economic growth.

The meeting was hosted by the finance minister in his Abuja office on Thursday, according to a statement posted on the official X handle of the finance ministry.

The meeting was part of the UN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with Nigeria on critical issues, including regional stability, economic growth, and social protection.

Discussions during the meeting focused on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to enhance Nigeria’s trade and economic relations across the region.

They also addressed strategies for improving food security, strengthening social protection systems to meet the socio-economic needs of Nigerians, and identifying ways the UN can mobilise its resources and expertise to support the country’s development goals.

Edun expressed gratitude to the DSG for her sustained engagement with Nigeria. He detailed progress in the administration’s social safety programmes, particularly the digitalisation of its direct benefit transfers initiative to enhance efficiency and transparency.

He also highlighted advancements in agriculture, noting improvements in wet and dry season farming as a result of targeted government support.

Mohammed was accompanied by a high-level UN delegation, including UN special representative, Leonardo Simão; UN political affairs officer, Sa’adatu Shuaibu; UN representative, Zubaida Mahmoud; and UN special assistant, Sergio Mate.