Amina Mohammed rules out politics, plans return to Nigeria after UN tenure

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has ruled out seeking political office after leaving the global organisation, saying she plans to return to Nigeria and use her international experience to contribute to the country and Africa.

Mohammed disclosed this on Monday during an interview with Arise News, while discussing her plans after completing her tenure at the United Nations.

Asked whether she would consider returning to public service or contesting for political office, Mohammed responded: “No.”

The UN deputy chief, however, said she intends to return home after nearly a decade at the organisation, describing her time there as a privilege that enabled her to build extensive networks and raise the visibility of women, Nigeria and Africa globally.

“I’m coming home, and I’m very happy to do that. Ten years here, I think, has been a privilege,” she said.

According to Mohammed, Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa provides an opportunity for her to apply the experience and relationships she gained at the UN to contribute to development across the country and continent.

“And Nigeria is a pretty big country, and it’s a leader in Africa,” she said. “I’d like to think that that’s what I could go back and contribute to.”

‘Women have won the battle, not the war’

Mohammed also spoke about the challenges women face in balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities and leadership roles.

She advised women to make effective use of their support networks rather than attempting to manage professional and personal responsibilities alone.

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“My advice to women is to use your support systems, never try to do this alone, it’s never about just you,” she said.

She noted that significant progress had been made in advancing women’s rights and leadership, but argued that substantial gaps remained.

“Women have won the battle, not the war,” Mohammed said, adding that women remained “way off track” in achieving targets relating to leadership, workplace equality, gender-based violence and other areas.

Mohammed became UN Deputy Secretary-General in February 2017 after joining the organisation in 2012 as Special Adviser to then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on post-2015 development planning.

She was closely involved in the development of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Before joining the UN, Mohammed served as Nigeria’s Minister of Environment from November 2015 to early 2017. She had earlier served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals.

Her current tenure as deputy secretary-general is scheduled to end on December 31, 2026, alongside that of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.