UN representative presents credentials

MANILA, Philippines –  The new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative to the Philippines has presented her credentials to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Ugochi Florence Daniels presented her credentials at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday.

Daniels was accompanied by her husband Onuoro Dicky Daniels and UN Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Badcock.

The UNFPA country office in the Philippines works hand in hand with the government at the national and local levels on AIDS prevention, the promotion of gender equality and safe motherhood, and reproductive health advocacy.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Babatunde Osotimehin, a professor and former minister health from Nigeria, as the new head of the UNFPA.

Osotimehin, who is currently professor of medicine at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, will succeed Thoraya Ahmed Obaid as the Fund’s executive director when her term ends on Dec. 31.

The new UNFPA head, who is also the African spokesman for the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, brings a wealth of experience to UNFPA, including extensive knowledge and understanding of the global and national framework and processes that are critical to the work of the agency, strong leadership and proven managerial skills.

He previously served as Minister of Health of Nigeria and was also director-general of the country’s National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS. He was also a visiting fellow at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.