No fewer than 100 countries have condoled Nigeria over the sudden passing away of the late Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin.
Osotimehin died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 68.
Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the messages of condolence had come in from majority of the 193 United Nations member states.
According to him, he had been receiving condolence messages from Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives of Missions since the sad news of Osotimehin’s demise was broken on Monday.
The Nigerian envoy commended the outpouring of the condolence messages, saying it was a supportive gesture to Nigeria as the country mourned the outstanding legacy of the late UNFPA chief.
Muhammad-Bande also said that the gesture was a testimony to the distinguished service of the late UN Under-Secretary-General to humanity.
Osotimehin was appointed on Nov. 19, 2010, as the Executive Director of UNFPA for a four-year term and assumed the position on Jan. 1, 2011.
He was reappointed to the position on Aug. 21, 2014, to become the organisation’s fourth executive director.
The deceased, until his death, held the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Osotimehin served previously as Nigeria’s Minister of Health between Dec. 17, 2008, and March 10, 2010.
