Amina J Mohammed’s Leadership in Nigeria and Beyond

Amina J Mohammed’s impact on governance, environmental sustainability, and global diplomacy has proven that she is a visionary leader and she is committed to driving meaningful change. Before assuming her current role as Deputy-Secretary-General of the United Nations, she played a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s environmental policies and advancing sustainable development efforts across Africa.

In November 2015, Amina Mohammed was appointed as the Federal Minister of the Environment in the First Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. She took on the role at a crucial time when Nigeria was grappling with pressing environmental challenges, including deforestation, pollution, and climate change. During her tenure, she spearheaded efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s environmental governance, advocating for policies that balance economic development with ecological sustainability. She was also Nigeria’s representative in the African Union (AU) Reform Steering Committee, chaired by Paul Kagame.

One of her most significant achievements as Minister was restructuring and officially gazetting the Hydrocarbons Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), a long-overdue initiative aimed at cleaning up the environmental devastation caused by oil spills in the Niger Delta. Her leadership ensured that the project was properly implemented, holding oil companies accountable for environmental degradation and working to restore the livelihoods of affected communities.

Amina J Mohammed was also instrumental in ensuring that the controversial Superhighway project proposed by the Cross River State government did not proceed without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the free, prior, and informed consent of the forest communities. Her insistence on environmental safeguards and due process highlighted her dedication to upholding sustainability principles, even in the face of political and economic pressures.

Another major initiative she worked on was the Great Green Wall, a transcontinental effort aimed at curbing desertification across Africa’s Sahel region. She advocated for Nigeria’s active participation in this initiative, not just as an environmental conservation strategy but also as an economic development project that would provide jobs and opportunities for communities in the northern part of the country. By integrating local populations into afforestation efforts, the project sought to turn degraded lands into productive agricultural zones, addressing both environmental and socio-economic challenges.

After a successful tenure, Amina J Mohammed resigned from the Nigerian Federal Executive Council on February 24, 2017, following her appointment as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Her departure from the cabinet marked the beginning of an even greater global responsibility—leading international efforts on sustainable development, gender equality and climate action.

Amina Mohammed’s contributions to governance and sustainable development have earned her numerous accolades. In recognition of her service to Nigeria, she was awarded the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), one of the country’s highest national honors.

Her influence extends beyond Nigeria, as she has been widely recognized for her work on gender policy, diplomacy, and international development. In 2017, she was named Diplomat of the Year by Foreign Policy magazine, further cementing her reputation as a leader in global affairs. In 2019, she was listed among the 100 Most Influential People on Gender Policy by Apolitical and ranked among the Most Influential Africans by Africa Report.

Her leadership continues to inspire new generations of African leaders, especially women, proving that visionary governance and bold decision-making can drive real change.

More about Amina J Mohammed here.