'Babatunde's death a devastating loss'

Jun 05, 2017

He was 68 years old

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) head, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin has passed on. A statement on the UNFPA official website has confirmed the worst.

Babatunde, who was also serving as the United Nation's Under Secretary General passed away on Sunday. 

In a statement, the UNFPA team said; "With profound sadness, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, announces that its Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, passed away suddenly at his home last night. He was 68 years old."

They called it a devastating loss for UNFPA and for the people, especially women, girls and youth, that Babatunde had dedicated his life to serving, starting from when he became a doctor in Nigeria. 

"Dr. Osotimehin was bold and never afraid of a challenge and his strong leadership helped keep the health and rights of the world's women and girls high on the global agenda. He understood that the world's 1.8 billion young people are truly its greatest hope for the future." 

He will be remembered for vigorously championing three major transformative goals all around maternal health. 

"He vigorously championed three major transformative goals of zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet demand for family planning and the elimination of harmful practices against women and girls. UNFPA urges all to honour his legacy by rallying around those global goals," the UNFPA team wrote of the Nigerian born Babatunde. 

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