BREAKING: UN Assistant Secretary-General to Nigeria: You Cannot Outsource The Health Of Your People To An Aid Agency
UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, has urged African nations, particularly Nigeria, to shift away from dependence on foreign aid and prioritise internal investment in key sectors such as health, development, and security.
“You cannot outsource the health of your people to an aid agency and the volatility of the times, the geopolitics, the transactional nature of international relations today mean that you have to preserve as a nation the things that you know keep your people alive and invest in that as a priority.” Eziakonwa stated, referring to recent donor pullbacks like USAID’s exit from parts of Nigeria’s health sector.
She commended the Nigerian government’s swift move to allocate $200 million to close the gap, calling it a critical step toward national responsibility.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Eziakonwa addressed the growing impact of shrinking global aid budgets and emphasised the need for African governments to take full ownership of their development agendas.
“This is what countries have to do,” she said. “The volatility of the times, the geopolitics, the transactional nature of international relations today mean that you have to preserve… the things that keep your people alive and invest in that as a priority.”
Eziakonwa stressed that while foreign aid has historically played a role in African development, it has also contributed to a dangerous culture of structural dependency.
“This is a wake-up call… Countries need to sit up and understand what it takes to keep Africa’s money in Africa to support its people,” she said.
Citing statistics on illicit financial flows, estimated at $90 billion annually leaving Africa, she argued that the continent generates ample resources that must be better harnessed for local development rather than seeking costly loans or aid from abroad.
The interview also touched on the broader themes of innovation, climate resilience, and youth empowerment, as Eziakonwa praised Nigeria’s young population for their entrepreneurial drive and technological savvy, noting that they are critical to the country’s future.
“You have to match their ambitions with opportunity,” she said. “When you do that, negative forces cannot reach them.”
Eziakonwa’s comments come at a time when many African nations are reevaluating their reliance on external support amid shifting donor priorities and global crises. Her message was clear: the future of Africa lies in self-determined investment, leadership, and sustainable growth.
