Amina Mohammed built an early career in architecture and development consulting in Nigeria before moving into government and international policy work focused on sustainable development and humanitarian issues.
Mohammed served as Nigeria's Minister of Environment and played a central role coordinating the country's implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and subsequently the Sustainable Development Goals framework.
In 2017, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Mohammed Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, one of the highest-ranking positions ever held by an African in the organisation's history.
Mohammed has continued in this senior UN leadership role, becoming a significant global voice on sustainable development, gender equality and multilateral cooperation, representing one of the most senior African women in international governance.
- Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations since 2017
- One of the highest-ranking Africans in United Nations history
- Served as Nigeria's Minister of Environment
- Played a central role in developing the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework
- Significant global voice on sustainable development and gender equality
- Diverse professional backgrounds can build toward senior policy leadership. Her architecture and consulting background informed her later development policy work.
- National government service can prepare leaders for international roles. Her Nigerian ministerial experience preceded her senior UN appointment.
- Sustained policy focus builds lasting global influence. Her consistent focus on sustainable development spans both national and international roles.
- Senior appointments expand representation at the highest levels of global governance. Her position places an African woman at one of the UN's most senior leadership levels.