Amina Jane Mohammed was born on June 27, 1961, in Liverpool, England, to a Nigerian father of Fulani origin and a British mother. Her father was a veterinarian officer, while her mother worked as a nurse. As the eldest of five daughters, she grew up in a multicultural home that blended the values of two continents. Although she was born in the United Kingdom, Amina spent much of her childhood in Nigeria, where she attended primary schools in Kaduna and Maiduguri before completing her secondary education at the Buchan School on the Isle of Man. In 1989, she studied at Henley Management College in England, and after completing her education, her father encouraged her to return to Nigeria to contribute to national development.
Amina’s professional journey began in 1981 when she joined Archcon Nigeria, an architectural design firm associated with Norman and Dawbarn in the United Kingdom. Her early exposure to design and planning helped shape her interest in sustainable development. In 1991, she founded Afri-Projects Consortium, a multidisciplinary firm that focused on engineering and development management. As the Executive Director of the firm for ten years, she gained valuable experience in coordinating large-scale projects and addressing local infrastructure needs.
Her transition into public service came in 2002 when she coordinated the Task Force on Gender and Education for the United Nations Millennium Project. The role allowed her to advocate for gender equality and expand educational opportunities across developing nations. By 2005, her expertise earned her an appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In that capacity, she supervised Nigeria’s debt-relief funds, ensuring they were channeled toward poverty reduction and sustainable development. She also designed a Virtual Poverty Fund and helped introduce innovative strategies for budget coordination and public sector reform.
Amina’s work extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. She founded the Centre for Development Policy Solutions and became an Adjunct Professor in Columbia University’s Master’s in Development Practice program. Her academic and professional experiences placed her on several international advisory boards, including the UNESCO Global Monitoring Report on Education and the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. She also served on the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, highlighting her deep involvement in shaping global development frameworks.
In 2012, Amina Mohammed was appointed Special Adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning. In this role, she played a central part in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She acted as the bridge between the Secretary-General, member states, and key international stakeholders, ensuring that the SDGs were inclusive and globally accepted.
Amina returned to Nigeria in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed her as the Minister of Environment. During her tenure, she led national efforts on climate action, environmental sustainability, and reforestation. She represented Nigeria in the African Union Reform Steering Committee chaired by Paul Kagame, demonstrating her influence in continental environmental policy. Her tenure was not without controversy, as some advocacy groups accused her of granting illegal permits for the export of endangered timber to China. The Nigerian government, however, denied these claims, emphasizing her commitment to sustainable environmental governance.
In early 2017, Amina J. Mohammed was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, becoming the fifth person and second woman to hold that position. In this capacity, she has worked closely with the UN Secretary-General to coordinate international efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Her responsibilities also include overseeing global development strategies, addressing humanitarian crises, and advancing gender equality.
Throughout her career, Amina Mohammed has received numerous honors and recognition for her leadership and dedication to development. She is a recipient of Nigeria’s national honor, the Order of the Federal Republic, and has been featured among the most influential women in the world by various international media outlets. Beyond her professional life, she is a mother of six children and a grandmother, balancing her family responsibilities with her global commitments.
Amina J. Mohammed’s journey from a young girl raised between Nigeria and the United Kingdom to one of the most powerful women in the United Nations reflects her determination, intelligence, and deep commitment to humanity. Her work continues to inspire millions, as she remains one of the most prominent voices advocating for social justice, gender equality, and sustainable development in the 21st century.
– North Book
