The International Society of Diplomats (ISD) Special Emissary on Media to Nigeria, Victor Asije, has said the United Nations (UN) urgently needs more support to be able to match strides with the current and future global challenges.
Asije said this in an end of year message commending the President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis,who recently convened a Town Hall with Civil Society from different countries, in New York.
He said the UN as an international organisation was in urgent need of more financial and technical support from member states, international organisations, Civil Society, academia, private organisations, professionals,youths and others.
“I will like to see the recent Civil Society Town Hall with the President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), Ambassador Dennis Francis, in New York, as a strengthener of successive ones.
“The world is currently experiencing challenges of environmental degradation, gender inequality, political tensions, conflicts, insecurity, climate change, terrorism, kidnapping, threats of technologies, threats of nuclear weapons, hunger, racism and racial discrimination, hate speeches, misinformation and disinformation, illegal migration, and others.
”Obviously these challenges are expanding, and also overstretching the UN capacities.And so the UN urgently needs more from us as member states, international organisations, civil rights, academia, youths,community leaders, and everyone of us all, to make the world a better and liveable place for us all.” Asije said.
According to him, the United Nations alone cannot provide the much needed solutions to the current and future global challenges.
The Special Emissary said that it was important for world leaders and other political leaders, private organisations, religious organisations, financial institutions, business moguls, philanthropists and multinationals to support the UN with more funds.
“We need more engagements, commitments, support, ownership and contributions from everyone and from every part of the world to help sustain and improve on the UN ongoing efforts at providing solutions to these expanding challenges.
“We must all rededicate and recommit ourselves to providing solutions to these current and future challenges, because what affects any nation affects us all. That is how interconnected and interdependent we all are, irrespective of our race, gender, religion, colour, geographical location, language and education,” he said.
The envoy commended the President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis, on his ongoing effort of inclusion and direct engagements with civil society and others.
He expressed optimism that the 78th UNGA President Francis would continue to bring his wealth of experiences and expertise in diplomacy and international relations spanning decades, to bear in repositioning the UN for its much needed activity.
Asije said the 78th UNGA President has also confirmed that the UN would not be able to resolve the current emerging global challenges alone.
