8th June, 2017
Ms Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, said she was shocked by the news of the death of Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Mohammed, in a statement, recalled her fond memory of Nigeria’s former Minister of Health.
The UN deputy chief and former Nigeria’s Minister of Environment expressed sympathy to Osotimehin’s family, the UN and the Nigerian Government.
Osotimehin died on Sunday night at his home in New York at the age of 68 years.
Mohammed said: “I received with great shock the news of the passing of my brother and friend, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin at midnight of June 4, 2017.
“I want to express my most sincere sympathies to his family, the Nigerian nation and to UN family especially the Nigerian UN family during this difficult time.
“When I joined the UN system in 2012, as a member of the Nigerian UN Family, Prof. Osotimehin was there to welcome me and he provided me with great support during my first UN journey.
“He was a very remarkable man. Knowing him personally as I did for many years, I am well aware of the huge difference he made in the lives of many people around the world and in his private life.
“He was a highly valuable and respected member of our UN team here and his fellow employees and young mentees around the world are already feeling the effects of his passing away.
“As a champion for the well-being of women and youth, his passing is a big loss to the world and his passionate work for humanity especially women and youth is his legacy.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time,” the UN deputy scribe said.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General was among those who signed the condolence register opened for the late UNFPA chief at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.