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U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S
U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
OP-ED ON THE SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE
By: Michael Mike
World Leaders Must Re-boot Global Cooperation for Today and Tomorrow
Final negotiations are underway in New York for this month’s Summit of the Future, where Heads of State will agree on reforms to the building blocks of global cooperation.
The United Nations has convened this unique Summit because of a stark fact: global problems are moving faster than the institutions designed to solve them.
We see this all around us. Ferocious conflicts and violence are inflicting terrible suffering; geopolitical divisions are rife; inequality and injustice are everywhere, corroding trust, compounding grievances, and feeding populism and extremism. The age-old challenges of poverty, hunger, discrimination, misogyny and racism are taking on new forms.
Meanwhile, we face new and existential threats, from runaway climate chaos and environmental degradation to technologies like Artificial Intelligence developing in an ethical and legal vacuum.
The Summit of the Future recognizes that the solutions to all these challenges are in our hands. But we need a systems update that only global leaders can deliver.
International decision-making is stuck in a time warp. Many global institutions and tools are a product of the 1940s – an era before globalization, before decolonization, before widespread recognition of universal human rights and gender equality, before humanity travelled into space – never mind cyberspace.
The victors of World War II still have pre-eminence in the UN Security Council while the entire continent of Africa lacks a permanent seat. The global financial architecture is heavily weighted against developing countries and fails to provide a safety net when they face difficulties, leaving them drowning in debt, which drains money away from investments in their people.
And global institutions offer limited space for many of the major players in today’s world – from civil society to the private sector. Young people who will inherit the future are almost invisible, while the interests of future generations go unrepresented.
The message is clear: we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built for our grandparents. The Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to re-boot multilateral collaboration fit for the 21st century.
The solutions we have proposed include a New Agenda for Peace focused on updating international institutions and tools to prevent and end conflicts, including the UN Security Council. The New Agenda for Peace calls for a renewed push to rid our world of nuclear arms and other Weapons of Mass Destruction; and for broadening the definition of security to encompass gender-based violence and gang violence. It takes future security threats into account, recognizing the changing nature of warfare and the risks of weaponizing new technologies. For example, we need a global agreement to outlaw so-called Lethal Autonomous Weapons that can take life-or-death decisions without human input.
Global financial institutions must reflect today’s world and be equipped to lead a more powerful response to today’s challenges – debt, sustainable development, climate action. That means concrete steps to tackle debt distress, increase the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, and change their business model so that developing countries have far more access to private finance at affordable rates.
Without that finance, developing countries will not be able to tackle our greatest future threat: the climate crisis. They urgently need resources to transition from planet-wrecking fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.
And as leaders highlighted last year, reforming the global financial architecture is also key to jump-starting desperately needed progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Summit will also focus on new technologies with a global impact, seeking ways to close the digital divide and establish shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all.
Artificial Intelligence is a revolutionary technology with applications and risks we are only beginning to understand. We have put forward specific proposals for governments, together with tech companies, academia and civil society, to work on risk management frameworks for AI and on monitoring and mitigating its harms, as well as sharing its benefits. The governance of AI cannot be left to the rich; it requires that all countries participate, and the UN is ready to provide a platform to bring people together.
Human rights and gender equality are a common thread linking all these proposals. Global decision-making cannot be reformed without respect for all human rights and for cultural diversity, ensuring the full participation and leadership of women and girls. We are demanding renewed efforts to remove the historic barriers – legal, social and economic – that exclude women from power.
The peacebuilders of the 1940s created institutions that helped prevent World War III and ushered many countries from colonization to independence. But they would not recognize today’s global landscape.
The Summit of the Future is a chance to build more effective and inclusive institutions and tools for global cooperation, tuned to the 21st century and our multipolar world.
I urge leaders to seize it.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S
ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called on Nigerians to tap into the billion dollars plastic waste industry.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu at the “Beat Plastic Pollution Innovation Day” in commemoration of World Environment Day.
Mamedu, who was represented by Chair of ActionAid Nigeria Young People’s Forum, Favour Ikpe, while noting that currently, Nigeria generates 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, urged Nigeria to tap into the billion dollar plastic waste economy.
He said with 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in Nigeria, only less than 10% of the waste is recycled, while the rest constitutes harm to the environment.
He therefore called for investment in recycling infrastructure and also support for the young Nigerians that are providing solutions.
He said: “To cut down drastically on single-use plastics,Invest in recycling infrastructure and Support the brilliant young people already building solutions from the grassroots.”
He stressed: “Let’s face it: the impact of plastic waste is right in front of us. In Nigeria alone, we generate over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 10% is recycled. That means the rest ends up in our drainages, our farmlands, our oceans, and these are harming our health and destroying livelihoods.
“But here’s the powerful part: change is already happening — and it’s being driven by young people. Nigeria is a young country — nearly 70% of our population is under 30. And we’re not sitting around waiting for change. We’re making it happen.
“Across the country, young people are taking plastic waste and turning it into opportunity — building startups, designing solutions, and creating sustainable alternatives.
“And there’s a big economic opportunity here. Globally, the recycled plastics market is projected to hit over $107 billion by 2032. Nigeria’s circular economy alone is already worth over $10 billion, and growing. The African Development Bank says that if we transition fully, Africa could unlock $350 billion in new economic opportunities by 2030.
“But we need the right systems to make this real. In Lagos, for example, the recycling economy was worth ₦18 billion in 2021 — yet 80% of the city’s waste still isn’t formally collected. That’s over $2.5 billion in lost value every year.
“Let’s reward innovation. Let’s fund community-led efforts. Let’s create policies that empower young recyclers and scale up sustainable solutions.
“Plastic may be part of the problem — but with the right approach, it can also be part of the solution. If we rethink, reuse, and recycle, we can turn pollution into possibility.”
He said what is needed today is to reimagine plastic — not as pollution, but as potential.
“So today isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about celebrating action. From the live demos to the amazing gallery displays, what you’ll see here are examples of how youth are flipping the script. This is what transformation looks like.”
ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry
Bandits abduct eight in Zamfara’s Shinkafi LGA
By: Zagazola Makama
At least eight persons have been abducted by armed bandits in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred on June 10, 2025, at about 12:55 p.m., when bandits invaded the Fadama area of Jangeru and Birnin Yero villages.
“During the attack, the armed bandits abducted eight persons, including one member of the Community Protection Guard (CPG) attached to Jangeru and seven other villagers,” the statement said.
The sources said efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Bandits abduct eight in Zamfara’s Shinkafi LGA
Zulum sympathises with Mokwa flood victims, donates N300m
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has sympathised with his Niger State counterpart, Mohammed Bago, over recent flood disaster in Mokwa Local Government Area.
During a visit on Tuesday at the Government House in Minna, Zulum announced the donation of N300m to support victims of the disaster.
Zulum noted that the donation is to complement the efforts of Niger State government in addressing the challenges of the disaster.
Zulum while also extending the commiseration of the entire people of Borno to the government and people of Niger State over the devastating effects of the flood which claimed many lives and destroyed properties and livelihoods, urged all the subnational governments to work collectively to mitigate the impact of climate change on societies.
Responding, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed his appreciation to his Borno State counterpart for the visit and donation, saying it was timely and a show of love.
The Governor also observed that Borno and Niger States have many things in common and applauded the doggedness, pro-activeness, perseverance and love of Borno State Governor, which he said has kept him on his toes.
Bago reassured that the donation would be utilised properly, even as he said lots of advocacy is ongoing on the need for people to stay away from coastal lines to avert reoccurrence.
Zulum was accompanied on the visit by Senator Mohammed Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, Hon. Abduljadir Rahis and the Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Engr Abdullahi Askira.
In a separate visit, Governor Zulum extended his condolences to the Government and people of Adamawa over the death of Professor Jibrin Aminu, who passed away recently in Abuja, describing Professor Aminu as son of Borno State, noting his contributions to the development and growth of education in the State and Nigeria at large.
Zulum’s entourage includes Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, a business mogul and Chairman of Oriental Energy.
In response, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri thanked the delegation for the visit and described Prof. Jibril Aminu’s death as a great tragedy not only for Adamawa but the nation as a whole.
Zulum sympathises with Mokwa flood victims, donates N300m
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