By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Nigerian law professor and diplomat, Akasoba Duke-Abiola, widow of the late businessman and politician, Chief Moshood Abiola, has accepted her nomination and endorsement to contest for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
Duke-Abiola announced her decision in a statement issued on Saturday, 8 August,2026, following her endorsement by the African Policy and Research Consortium, a body made up of government officials, scholars, policy leaders and development practitioners from Africa and other parts of the world.
Her nomination comes amid growing calls for stronger African representation in the leadership of major international institutions.
Duke-Abiola described the endorsement as more than a personal honour, stating that she received it with profound humility and viewed it as a solemn call to serve vulnerable communities, particularly women and children, rather than as personal recognition.
She said her academic work in sustainable development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals had further strengthened her commitment to peace, justice, human dignity and international cooperation.
The diplomat expressed encouragement at the geographical reach of support behind her nomination, disclosing that the consortium’s network extended across several African countries and other regions, including South Africa, Rwanda, Egypt, Barbados and Chile, describing the wide backing as both humbling and inspiring.
Duke-Abiola said her nomination carried wider significance for African women and girls facing poverty, insecurity, early marriage, exclusion and limited access to education, noting that as an African woman, she understood the significance of the endorsement, which she said sent a powerful message that African women can lead globally and that the dreams, dignity and potential of every African child must remain central to the international agenda.
She thanked heads of state, diplomats, scholars, public officials, institutional partners and development advocates who supported her nomination, disclosing that she had commenced broad consultations with members of her family, elders, statesmen and women, professional colleagues, diplomatic partners and thought leaders across Africa and internationally, stressing that the consultations were being carried out with the seriousness, wisdom and reflection the historic matter deserves.
She described the office of UN Secretary-General as a sacred trust on behalf of humanity, maintaining that any decision concerning the role must be guided by conscience, national interest, continental responsibility and the pursuit of global peace.
The law professor further called for stronger intellectual and policy institutions across Africa capable of responding to conflict, displacement, inequality, climate insecurity and declining confidence in global institutions.
She urged women and young people not to allow difficult circumstances to limit their ambitions, encouraging them never to doubt their capacity to lead, govern wisely and contribute meaningfully to humanity, and to continue pursuing education, courage and excellence while dreaming boldly, insisting that their circumstances must never define their destiny.
