By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
The United Nations has appointed Former Chairman of Nigerian Pension Reform Task Force, Dr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina into the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD).
The Institute is “an autonomous research institute within the United Nations that undertakes multidisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues”. UNRISD was established in 1963 with the mandate of conducting policy-relevant research on social development that is pertinent to the work of the United Nations Secretariat, regional commissions and specialized agencies, and national institutions.
The Under-Secretary-General of United Nations, Jan Beagle, who confirmed Mr. Maina appointment, disclosed that the Maina would serve a four-year term of office effective from March 1, 2018.
Mr. Beagle said, “On behalf of the Secretary-General, I have the honour to inform you that at the 55th plenary meeting of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly, the General Assembly decided to appoint you as an ad-hoc member of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) for a four-year term of office, beginning from 1st March, 2018.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment and wish you success in your work.”
The Director United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Paul Ladd, also congratulated the Mr Maina on his appointment and welcomed him to the Institute.
Mr. Paul Ladd explained that the purpose of the institute of UNRISD is an autonomous research institute within the UN system that undertakes multidisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues.
“Through our work we aim to ensure that social equity, inclusion and justice are central to development thinking, policy and practice. To this end, we:
focus on the often neglected social content and impacts of development processes and the role of social institutions, relations and actors in shaping development policies and pathways;
engage researchers, policy makers and civil society actors from around the world in generating and sharing knowledge, in order to shape policy within and beyond the UN system;
mobilize and strengthen the research capacity of individuals and institutions in developing countries through collaborative inquiry; and
provide a space for the exchange of ideas, giving prominence to marginalized viewpoints, often challenging mainstream development thinking and offering alternative policy options.”
UNRISD was established in 1963 as an autonomous space within the UN system for the conduct of policy-relevant, cutting-edge research on social development that is pertinent to the work of the United Nations Secretariat; regional commissions and specialized agencies; and national institutions.
