Joseph Babatunde Oduntan.

Oduntanjb.2013@gmail.com

 

THE United Nations (UN) will on 24th October, 2025 mark its 80th year anniversary.

The spotlight is on the founding of the organization, the journey and rise of Antonio Guterres to the United Nations top position.

The 'United Nations' first named 'The League of Nations' in 1919 after WWI is a global non-profit intergovemental organization established by United States of America 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the 24th October, 1945 after WWII.

The aim and objectives for the creation was to encourage nations to support world leaders' efforts to stop wars, maintain international peace, security and to achieve co-operation amongst nations affected by the hardship and sufferings of war on economic, social and humanitarian problems. 

The two main bodies of the UN are: The General Assembly which is composed of all member nations and the Security Council made up of five countries, China, France, United Kingdom, Russia and United States of America as permanent members and the Vatican was made an observer member.

Today the United Nations which started with fifty (50) member nations has risen to between 193 and 200 nations.

The UN has offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and the Hague.

The official languages for conducting sessions and publications are viz: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish with language specialists to cover conferences and meetings.

The important units of the organization called the 'United Nations System' include: The General Assembly, The Security council, The Economic and Social council, The international court of justice, The Secretariat and The trusteeship council with several specialized agencies and related agencies.

The contribution and achievements of past UN Secretary-General that enhanced peace, growth and development of many member nations in different continents of the world particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East during the wave of decolonization in the mid twentieth century cannot be over emphasized.

In the great strides and journey of the UN since inception we today remember the contribution and great achievements  of living and dead past Secretary-General of the organization.

The list include viz: Sir Gladwyn Jebb, from the United Kingdom. He is the pioneer UN Secretary-General who briefly served between 1945 and 1946, Trygve Haludan Lie from Norway served between 1946 and 1952, Dag Hammarsk jold from Sweden served between 1953 and 1961, U Thant from Burma(Myanmar) served between 1961 and 1971, Kurt Waldheim from Austria served between 1972 and 1981, Javier Perez de Cueller from Peru served 1982 and 1991, Boutros Boutros Ghali from Egypt served between 1992 and 1996, Mr. Kofi Annan from Ghana served between 1997 and 2006, Mr. Ban Ki-moon from the Republic of Korea served between 2007 and 2016 and the incumbent Antonio Guterres Portugal commenced service in 2017 to date.

His Excellency, Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres was born in Lisbon Portugal on 30th April, 1949.

His parents Mr. Virgilio Dias and Mrs. Lida Candidados Reis Oliveira Guterres are devout Christians of the Roman Catholic faith.

Guterres at the age of sixteen (16) in 1965 finished his secondary school with a national award as the best student in the country. As a youth, Guterres belonged to the Catholic church religious 'Light' group and had Reverend Father Victor Malicias , a Franciscan Catholic priest as a close friend and mentor.

Guterres attended the Intituto Superior Tecnico-the Technical University of Lisbon for his tertiary education.

He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Physics and Electrical Engineering in 1971 at the age of twenty two (22).

Guterres started his academic career immediately graduation as an Assistant Professor (Assistant Lecturer).

He was twenty five (25) years old in 1974 when he left teaching and ventured into full time politics. He started his political career by joining the country's Socialist party (SD).

Guterres served as leader of the Socialist party in the Portuguese National parliament between 1989 and 1990. He made Portugal to join the European Union (EU) and a founding member of the Portuguese Refugee council.

Guterres became the Prime Minister of Portugal at the age of forty six (46) in 1995 when the country's Socialist party won the parliamentary election and Mr. Mario Soares Jorge Sampaio was president.

Guterres's tenure as PM of Portugal saw many changes, growth and development. As a former student activist, he was a close friend to the country's civil society and he often consulted with them to formulate policy.

He meets with intellectuals, scientists and entrepreneurs from across the country including political groups in the country and this enhanced his political score card and was ranked as the best PM in the political history of Portugal.

His achievements as PM include: Improvement in labour wages, Tax collection, Gender equality, crack down on tax evasion, good welfare and income for workers, made reforms in education, housing, social welfare, health care, security and annual leave for workers.

He resigned his position as PM when his Socialist party lost election in 2001.

Guterres speaks the native Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, his multilingual talent was useful in his   service to the United Nations.

In 2005 at age fifty six (56), Guterres became a diplomat and staff of the United Nations when the General Assembly elected him as High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for a five year term.

In his position as High Commissioner, Guterres headed one of the world's largest humanitarian organization which at the end of his term had a large number of staff working in one hundred and twenty six (126) countries providing protection and assistance to over sixty (60) million refugees, returnees, internally displaced people and stateless persons around the world.

Guterres's term as UNHCR chief brought many reforms involving cut in administrative cost, staffing, improving emergency response capacity to people during the worst displacement crisis since the end of WW II.

He left the UNHCR job in 2015 at the end of his two terms tenure and became a member of his country's council of state before his appointment as UN 9th Secretary-General in 2017.

Guterres for the UN top post, submitted his nomination as Portugal's candidate for UN S-G position to the General Assembly public hearing in 2016.

Fifteen (15) member UN security council announced the nomination of Guterres after an informal secret ballot vote of which thirteen (13) out of fifteen(15) members voted for him.

The UNSC in a resolution nominated Guterres and passed their decision to the General Assembly.

UNGA at the seventy one (71) session in October 2016 elected Guterres as the first national leader to become the UN Secretary-General.

He started is first term five years tenure as UN 9th Secretary- General on 1st January, 2017.

Guterres, the UN Chief Executive  and his staff  will host dignitaries and  leaders of  member nations for the organization’s 80th anniversary celebration at this year's UNGA meeting holding at the headquarter in New York city, United States of America.

The UN secretariat building in America which started in 1948 was completed in 1952. The one hundred and fifty four meter tall skyscraper building with thirty nine (39) above ground stories must be wearing a colourful look with member state flags flying in the foreground to welcome guests.

Despite today’s twenty first(21st) century threat of terrorism and the scaring wave of wars in many nations across the world with biting economic hardship and suffering standing as obstacle  against global peace and security, Guterres's efforts and achievements as UN Secretary-General focus on peace, human rights, climate change, refugee protection and diplomatic engagement with controversial global actors.

Guterres headed many boards. He played vital  leadership roles in solving war and economic problems faced by member nations, international organizations, foundations and councils amongst which are: The media, finance, humanitarian aids, innovations, gender equality and global policy.

Guterres received numerous national and international honors, honorary doctorate degrees and prestigious awards as recognition for his contribution to diplomacy, democracy and global leadership.

 At this important celebration, we remember those men and women who lost their lives in the course of their service to the UN, we pray that their gentle souls may rest peacefully with the Lord and their service for a united world will never be forgotten.

The world at large share the joy of the UN 80th anniversary celebration with the founding fathers, all members of staff  past and present, individuals and organizations whose services and contributions enhanced the growth and development of the UN  for a  peaceful, secured and better life for the human race.

 NOTE: Mr. Joseph Babatunde Ibijimi Oduntan is an Agronomist, Researcher, a retired Assistant Chief Agricultural Officer, Freelance Journalist, Writer, Author, Proof reader and Copy Editor. Contact Address: +234(0)7053203808, +234(0)8034732648, E-mail: oduntanjb.2013@gmail.com, oduntanjb.2017@yahoo.com