PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu today, extended his congratulations to Shirley Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, upon her election as the forthcoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Yesterday, during a meeting in Apia, Samoa, leaders from the 56 Commonwealth nations elected Botchwey, a 61-year-old former lawmaker who has held the position of Ghana’s foreign minister for the past seven years, as the 7th Secretary-General.
She is set to take office on April 1, 2025.
Botchwey is the second African to be elected as Secretary-General in the Commonwealth’s 75-year history, following Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria, who held the role from July 1, 1990, to March 31, 2000.
A statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), noted that Nigeria supported Botchwey in her bid for this distinguished position.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Botchwey’s extensive experience in public administration, foreign affairs, and regional development makes her ideally suited for the role.
He believes that her leadership will invigorate the Commonwealth’s initiatives to promote significant economic and political partnerships that enhance development and elevate the bloc’s influence in global matters.
The President anticipates collaborating with the incoming Secretary-General to further the Commonwealth’s mission of fostering peace, equity, and prosperity for all member nations.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to promoting a Commonwealth that emphasizes the strengthening of intra-Commonwealth trade, boosting African exports, and advocating for a unified stance at the United Nations to support an African permanent representation on the Security Council.
The President also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, for her years of service and wished her success in her future endeavors.
