As the United Nations celebrates 80 years of promoting peace, human rights, and sustainable development, the Head of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, Ronald Kayanji, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to adapting to a changing world and empowering young people to shape the future.
Speaking at a commemorative event in Abuja, Kayanji reflected on the UN’s eight decades of work and highlighted its five key pillars maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, advancing sustainable development, and upholding international law.
He said: “If we don’t protect human rights, there’s no way we can have peace. Our work goes beyond the scenes to ensure that people live in peace, that conflicts don’t continue, and that justice prevails through international law.” Kayanji said.
Kayanji emphasized that the UN’s role in fostering peace and stability is evolving amid modern challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and global inequality issues that were not envisioned when the organisation was founded in 1945.
He said to remain relevant, the UN recently held a “Summit for the Future”, which produced a Pact for the Future a global action plan designed to address today’s pressing issues, including AI governance, digital transformation, and youth empowerment.
“We now live in a world of over eight billion people the largest population of young people in history,”
That’s why the Pact for the Future includes chapters on young people, future generations, and global governance. The UN is thinking about you the young people who will frame the future.” He noted
Kayanji also drew parallels between the UN’s founding period and today’s world, pointing out how global security has transformed with the advent of drones and cyber technologies.
He said: “In 1945, they never imagined artificial intelligence or digital currencies.
“For the UN to stay relevant, we must review what is happening in the world and adjust to new realities.” He said.
As the UN commemorates eight decades of global service, Kayanji called on youth and civil society to actively engage with the organization and participate in building a peaceful and sustainable world.
“The UN is not for us who work here it is for the people, we invite everyone, especially young people, to join in shaping the future we all want.”he said.
Kayanji emphasizes that the purpose of the Model United Nations (MUN) is not just to teach debate or diplomacy, but to help young people think globally beyond their immediate environments. He highlights the importance of preparing students to understand and address worldwide issues.
“What we want them to understand is to think beyond their community, to think beyond their country, to think globally, to understand global challenges. Because it is these young people actually who will face those challenges in the future.”
He shares how the UN experience can spark lifelong interest in international relations, citing the example of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Kayanji believes many of today’s participants could become tomorrow’s diplomats and global leaders.
“Our former Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, before even thinking of being Secretary-General or working in international affairs, he did Model United Nations In future these will be ambassadors, they will be the foreign service officers.”
Kayanji stresses that the UN fosters empathy and a sense of shared humanity by learning about other nations’ issues, students become more compassionate and globally minded traits he sees as essential for a peaceful future.
“One of the challenges we have in this world is that people are thinking about themselves, not minding about the concerns, the fears, the suffering of others. But once we instill this in young people, we think that we are building a good future,” he noted .
Students from across Nigeria shared their excitement and aspirations at the Abuja International Model United Nations (AIMUN), held at the UN House in Abuja. For many, the conference provided a firsthand experience of diplomacy, debate, and global cooperation.
Fatima Ahmed Bello, a student of Newgate University, Minna, described the event as both inspiring and enlightening.
Bello said: “The programme today is really educative. We are here to gain more knowledge and learn how to secure our future together.”
For Dikko Divine Favour, a 300-level Law student from the University of Abuja, representing Russia at the session was a chance to better understand the UN’s workings.
Being here today is a wonderful experience. There’s coordination, and they’re teaching us how the UN works it’s a great platform for people to explore what the UN is about.” Favour stated .
Great Wisdom Wigwe, a 400-level student of Agricultural Economics at the University of Abuja, representing the United States, said the experience deepened his passion for diplomacy.
Wigwe said: “From the moment I got into this house, I felt excitement that I’m going to gain a lot here. Young people actually have a chance to change the world by being focused and intentional about what we do.”
Together, these young delegates reflect the spirit of the Model UN nurturing future diplomats who are learning to think globally and act collaboratively for a better world.
