Nigeria’s Prof. Awosika re-elected as Chair of UN
Scientific Panel
ON June 15, 2017 10:59 AM / IN News / BY
Adekunle / Comments



New York – Nigeria’s candidate, Prof. Lawrence
Folajimi Awosika, has been re-elected as Chairman of
the United Nation’s Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf (CLCS).


Awosika polled 154 out of 157 votes to emerge Chair
of the prestigious 21-person UN scientific body.


CLCS is the UN body that decides what portions of
the seabed can be exclusively mined for natural
resources such as oil, precious metals and minerals.
Awosika, first elected into the Commission in 1997,
was elected for another five-year tenure in 2012 to
2015 as Chairman and with his re-election, would be
on the Commission as Chairman for the 2017 to 2022
term.


Fielding candidates for CLCS would require the
country’s permanent mission to the UN, in this
instance, the Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN,
which coordinated the process and canvassed for
votes for the position.
This achievement would also improve Nigeria’s future
“diplomatic leverage,” according to a person familiar
with UNCLOS proceedings.


Apart from signalling prestige, a membership of the
commission allows Nigeria to gauge the scientific
strength of claims by countries to parts of the seabed
that, like territorial waters, are often hard to
demarcate.


Awosika was a member of the Commission prior to
his election in 2014 as Chairman for a two-and-half
year.


He was a one-time Director and Head, Marine
Geology, Geophysics Department of the Nigerian
Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research.
Awosika’s resounding victory to lead the Commission
for at least two and half years is seen as a ‘feather’
for Nigeria and Africa.


This is especially as no black or African has ever
won the chairmanship of the Commission, according
to information obtained by NAN.


The Nigerian UN official is seen as uniquely aware of
the geography and geology of Nigeria’s terrain.
Hence his re-election was strongly supported by the
Federal Government to consistently and effectively
oversee to the progressive position of the country’s
CLCS.


Commission had 21 vacant seats and based on
geographical spread, five seats were allocated to the
African Group – Madagascar, Kenya, Nigeria,
Cameroon and Angola.


However, Africa was later given an additional seat
because there is a “floating seat” that goes to either
Africa or Western Europe or Latin America and the
Caribbean Group.


As the regions already had their candidates filled,
that “floating seat” went to Africa, making a total of
six candidates for the continent.


Awosika’s re-election was not without an a challenge
as Ghana made initial frantic efforts to contest the
seat with Nigeria by fielding a candidate.


However, negotiations skills were deployed by the
Permanent Mission of Nigeria while the African Union
also waded in to avoid embarrassment for Africa
Consequently, Ghana withdrew its candidature
following AU’s mediation thereby allowing the
Nigeria’s candidate for the seat a smooth sail by
being returned unopposed. (NAN)


www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/nigerias-prof-awosika-re-elected-chair-un-scientific-panel/

COULD YOU REARRANGE YOUR COPIED WORK PLEASE!


CONGRATULATIONS TO PROFESSOR AWOSIKA

Its like Afonjas are silent Achievers like the fulanis.
They just don't like bragging,chestbeating and boasting like some people.

StephDamielola:
COULD YOU REARRANGE YOUR COPIED WORK PLEASE!


CONGRATULATIONS TO PROFESSOR AWOSIKA

I will not.

Congratulations.

So UN no see IBO man give ehn

OZAOEKPE:
So UN no see IBO man give ehn

This Bini boy hiding in Ilorin, you don start again abi?

shukuokukobambi:


This Bini boy hiding in Ilorin, you don start again abi?

Smiles



I only stated the obvious.

OZAOEKPE:

Smiles



I only stated the obvious.

You wan begin marginalization advocacy on top this matter again?!! Isorait

shukuokukobambi:


You wan begin marginalization advocacy on top this matter again?!! Isorait

Abi na

Afonja You are the real brain power of Africa.