MEET HE MRS FATIMA NARAM ACYL-Commissioner for Trade and Industry at the Africa Union
African Union Commission
Roosevelt Street
(Old Airport Area) W. 21 K. 19
P.O. Box: 3243
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel.: + (251) 011 5 18 29 02
Fax: + (251) 0115 18 29 70
E-mail: acylf@africa-union.org
MEET Dr Aïsha Adbullahi, from Nigeria, the new Africa union Political Affairs Commissioner. She won the vote for the most popular post against 6 contenders.
Adbullahi was previously Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea. Before that, she was Commissioner for Special Duties in Bauchi State from May 2004 to May 2007. Abdullahi holds doctorate degree in organic chemistry from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University. Importantly, her experience in Guinea made her acquainted with current African peace and security challenges. ‘I will be proactive in conducting sound programmes that will assist the AU and its Member States to evolve, promote and nurture political governance systems (…)… I will accelerate activities that will help Member States develop unique internal democratic systems and structures’ she stated upon her appointment. In the run up to the 10th anniversary of the African Peer Review Mechanism, and in the context of the implementation of the African Governance Architecture, such a stress on political governance is a promising indication for the future. Lastly, it is worth noting that she is the first Nigerian to seize a Commissioner’s seat in the AU, which makes her appointments a significant diplomatic success for her own country.
Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace is the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union. Prior to assuming this portfolio, H.E Tumusiime held various senior positions in the Government of the Republic of Uganda, including Commissioner for Agriculture Planning and Commissioner for Women and Development. She is a holder a Bachelors’ Degree in Agricultural Economics, a Masters Degree in Economics, Planning and Managing Rural Development, and a Diploma in Women and Development.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated leadership and championed causes such as women empowerment, poverty eradication, agricultural development, strategic planning and partnership building, among others.
Her portfolio as AU Commissioner covers multiple sectors ranging from crop agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, land, water, environment, climate change, climate services, disaster risk reduction to rural development. She has mobilized and closely worked with other Pan African Institutions and Development Partner Agencies in all those areas to secure and provide support to AU Member States. Her efforts have yielded increased responses in the framework of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Programme (CAADP). From one country which had signed a CAADP Compact over a period of four years to 26 within less than 2 years. She spearheaded the coordination of Africa’s preparations for global climate change negotiations and the formulation of a continent-wide climate change strategy in addition to steering Africa’s preparation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan in line with the global Hugo Framework .
Her expertise and experience as well as commitment have won her a number of key positions on regional and international organizations, such as membership of the High-level Advisory Panel of UNISDR, Advisory Board of Expo 2015 dedicated to the Theme: Feeding the Planet, Energy For Life, Governing Board of the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), Chair of the African Fertiliser Financing Mechanism (AFFM), Chair of the ALive Platform for livestock development in Africa, among others.
She continues to serve the African Union and its Member States with vigour and dedication.
