Amina J. Mohammed

Who They Are

Amina Jane Mohammed is a towering figure in global diplomacy and one of the most powerful women in the world. Born in Liverpool to a Nigerian herdsman and a British nurse, she was raised in Northern Nigeria and ultimately returned to dedicate her life to public service, sustainable development, and environmental action. Before ascending to the global stage, she served as Nigeria's Minister of Environment, where she spearheaded monumental initiatives to combat climate change, tackle the shrinking of Lake Chad, and clean up the oil-polluted Ogoniland. Her brilliance, pragmatism, and fierce dedication to humanity led to her appointment as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2017. At the UN, she has been the driving force behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working tirelessly to eradicate poverty, advance gender equality, and combat the climate crisis. She remains a fiercely proud daughter of Arewa, proving that the highest echelons of global leadership are within reach of the Northern Nigerian girl-child.