by Lekan Olanrewaju

She may not have the World Bank top job yet, but Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has no reason to fret, as she’s just added another yard to her already well adorned head tie.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance has been appointed by the UN as part of a 27-member body focused on tackling childhood nutrition

The UN’s Department of Public Information on Tuesday made the announcement, that she together with 26 other global leaders made up of heads of state and other reputable individuals would be part of the panel, Scaling Up Nutrition, which will focus on improving nutrition as a key to progress in health and development.

“Never before have so many leaders, from so many countries and fields, agreed to work together to improve nutrition,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “The SUN movement gives all of us, including the UN, an opportunity to support countries in their efforts to end hunger and malnutrition.”

The group will be involved in ensuring that the countries involved in the movement are supported as they work to create tangible and sustainable improvements in nutrition, as well as mobilising support and strengthening both coordination and accountability within the movement.

“This is a historic moment for nutrition,” said  David Nabarro, Coordinator of the SUN Movement. “Today a group of world leaders pledges to work together to improve the nutrition of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable children. Their two-year commitment to SUN illustrates the urgency and priority that these leaders place on alleviating malnutrition, as well as a recognition of the incredible impact that improved nutrition could have on the future of both individuals and nations.”

Other leaders appointed alongside Okonjo-Iweala to head the body include:

• Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of Mozambique
• Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania
• Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh
• Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of Namibia
• Babu Ram Bhattarai, Prime Minister of Nepal
• Nina Sardjunani, Deputy Minister of Development Planning of Indonesia
• Nadine Heredia, First Lady of Peru
• Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD Civil Society Organizations