Dr. Funmi Olotu, National Coordinator of the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), has been recognised with four international honours in the United States. The awards acknowledge her leadership, public service, and contributions to social protection, inclusion, and human dignity. The honours were presented during the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The recognitions include awards from the United States Congress, the governor of Maryland, a presidential medal, and the UNESCO Centre for Peace Award, alongside her designation as a peace ambassador. According to the organisers, the honours recognise Olotu’s efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture, particularly in improving the identification of poor and vulnerable households and building more responsive systems.
Olotu’s work at NASSCO has helped advance an integrated approach to social protection that connects strong institutions and reliable data with resilience, economic inclusion, and improved opportunities for vulnerable households. Her efforts have also focused on improving social protection data and creating pathways to greater resilience and opportunity for vulnerable populations.
The honours were presented by the UNESCO Centre for Peace and its partners, making Olotu the second Nigerian to receive this combination of awards. The recognition places Nigeria’s social protection experience within the broader global conversation on resilience, inclusion, peace, and sustainable development.
For Olotu, the honours represent not only a personal honour but also an acknowledgement of collective efforts to build stronger institutions and ensure that vulnerable Nigerians are reached with dignity, responsiveness, and opportunity. She emphasised that the recognition is an affirmation of the importance of strengthening social protection systems that understand vulnerability and respond to changing needs.
Olotu’s achievements have been acknowledged globally, with the awards presented during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly. The recognition highlights the impact of her work in Nigeria and its relevance to global conversations on social protection, resilience, and sustainable development.
The awards are a testament to Olotu’s dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians. Her work continues to focus on building stronger institutions and ensuring that social protection systems are responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
Key points
- Dr. Funmi Olotu receives four international honours in the US for her leadership and contributions to social protection.
- The honours recognise Olotu’s efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture and improving the lives of vulnerable populations.
- Olotu is the second Nigerian to receive this combination of awards from the UNESCO Centre for Peace and its partners.
