H.E Amina J. Mohammed
Deputy Secretary General, United Nations
Nigeria
H.E. AMINA J. MOHAMMED
Amina Jane Mohammed stands as a prominent figure and a testament to the remarkable influence of women on the African continent. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Amina J Mohammed has been named in the 5th list of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2023 by Avance Media.
Amina J. Mohammed’s diverse background reflects her rich heritage, being born to a Hausa-Fulani Nigerian veterinarian-officer and a British nurse. Raised as the eldest of five daughters, she attended primary schools in Kaduna and Maiduguri in Nigeria, as well as the Buchan School on the Isle of Man. Her educational journey continued with studies at Henley Management College in 1989.
Between 1981 and 1991, Amina J. Mohammed worked with Archcon Nigeria, an architectural design firm in association with Norman and Dawbarn United Kingdom. In 1991, she founded Afri-Projects Consortium, serving as its Executive Director until 2001. Her commitment to development extended to coordinating the Task Force on Gender and Education for the United Nations Millennium Project from 2002 to 2005.
A significant chapter of her career unfolded when she served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Her responsibilities included coordinating Nigeria’s debt relief funds, designing innovative approaches to poverty reduction, budget coordination, and monitoring for sustainable development.
Amina J. Mohammed later founded the Center for Development Policy Solutions and served as an Adjunct Professor for the Master’s in Development Practice program at Columbia University. Her influence expanded globally as she participated in international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development.
From 2012, Amina Mohammed played a crucial role in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, serving as the Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Her responsibilities included facilitating communication between the Secretary-General, the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons, and the General Assembly’s Open Working Group. She also contributed to the Secretary-General’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development.
Amina J. Mohammed’s dedication to public service extended to her role as the Federal Minister of Environment in Nigeria’s cabinet from November 2015 to February 2017. During this time, she represented Nigeria in the African Union (AU) Reform Steering Committee and later resigned from the Nigerian Federal Executive Council in February 2017.
In January 2017, Amina J. Mohammed assumed the role of Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, as announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In this capacity, she is a member of the UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.
In recognition of her profound contributions to international development, environmental stewardship, and her current role as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J Mohammed was named in the 5th list of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2023 by Avance Media. Her journey exemplifies resilience, leadership, and a commitment to sustainable development, making her an influential figure on both the African and global stages.
H.E. Amina was also named among the Inaugural List of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2019 by Avance Media.