The 37th General Assembly of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, kicked off in Paris on Tuesday with Nigeria’s Supervising Minister of Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike elected as one of the General Assembly’s vice presidents.
China’s education minister Hao Ping was elected the president of the General Assembly.
Wike led Nigeria’s delegation, comprising ministers, legislators, technocrats, university heads and executives of para-state agencies, to the assembly after he made his presentations at the first part of Monday’s meeting with Academic Staff Union of Universities.
He arrived Paris Tuesday morning and headed straight for the meeting, said a ministry statement.
Ping has pledged to build consensus amongst member states and urged them to unite in their quest to ensure UNESCO delivers on her key objectives.
Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, told members to use their positions to promote education, science, diverse cultures and world peace.
Wike said Nigeria’s re-election into the leadership of UNESCO General Conference confirms the international community’s confidence in the education transformation agenda of President Jonathan.
According to the minister, the relationship between Nigeria and UNESCO recently led to the location of the West African Regional Office in Abuja.
