'Reaffirm your dedication to humanity’, Fall urges stakeholders as UN marks 80

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, has called on all stakeholders to reaffirm their dedication to humanity. 

“Today, we celebrate not an institution, but a living promise: to serve humanity, by humanity, for humanity,” he said at the UN@80 High-Level Commemoration organised by the UN in Nigeria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

He emphasized that the UN remains “the hope of those who have no other hope, the bridge between despair and possibility.”

The event brought together diplomats, government officials, civil society representatives, and young people to honour eight decades of the United Nations’ commitment to peace, dignity, and equality for all.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar, called for renewed commitment to multilateralism and reform of the United Nations. 

Represented by Ambassador Wahab Akande, the Chief of Protocol at the Ministry, Umar stated, “This anniversary of the UN must not be a sentimental retreat into nostalgia. It must be a moment of truth, an opportunity to examine where we have stumbled and how we could have done better in turning our values into action that meet the demands of today,” Umar said.

He reiterated Nigeria’s demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, describing it as “a demand for fairness, for continental equitable representation, and for reform that projects credibility to the very institution upon which the hope of multilateralism rests.”

The keynote speaker was the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Eghsa Osaghae, who chronicled key historical events in the UN and juxtaposed them with the current realities.

Since its founding by 51 Member States, and its growth to 193 today, the United Nations has played a central role in addressing global challenges. The Organization has provided food to the hungry, delivered healthcare to vulnerable populations, supported countries recovering from conflict and disaster, and defended human dignity across the world.

With the global theme “Building Our Future Together,” the commemoration underscored that the next chapter of the UN will be shaped not by chance but by collective action. In Nigeria, the UN’s vision for a shared future is reflected in the country’s resilience, innovation, and commitment to progress. Speakers highlighted Nigeria as a place where partnership and solidarity continue to drive transformative change. 

As the United Nations enters its ninth decade, speakers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation and advancing a future grounded in peace, inclusion, and shared prosperity.