Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is dead at Age 80 at Switzerland

One of the world's most noted diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations, Annan, a native of Ghana, rose through its ranks to become the first black African secretary-general of the UN. The news of his death was announced by his foundation on Saturday.

The UN chief said, “He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world.

“In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all us.”

The former Secretary-General headed the intergovernmental organisation from 1997 to 2006.

His foundation announced his death on Saturday and the late UN scribe reportedly died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours of Saturday.

Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, after Egyptian diplomat, Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali exit in December 1996.

President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina, said, Nigerians and ECOWAS member countries share in the deep loss of the renowned Ghanaian diplomat.

Part of the statement read, “President Buhari said Annan’s origin and home will always be traced to Ghana, but his exceptional leadership roles, humanitarian spirit and contributions to global peace and development will remain indelible in the history of the entire world, especially the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa and launch of the UN Global Compact.”