Professor Obijiofor Aginam

Prof. Obijiofor Aginam is a scholar, practitioner, and international policy expert who has dedicated his career to advancing peace, sustainability, and global health governance. As the Director of UNESCO's Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), he leads global initiatives promoting educational innovation and sustainable development, with a special focus on Global South. Prof. Aginam's academic career includes a tenured professorship of law and legal studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, and Global Security and Cooperation Fellowship of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) of New York. A respected voice in global health diplomacy and governance, Prof. Aginam played a key role in revising WHO’s International Health Regulations. His distinguished career includes senior positions within the United Nations system, serving at the United Nations University in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur. In his current role as Director of UNESCO MGIEP, Prof. Aginam is focused on strengthening the role of education to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He champions innovative approaches to education that emphasize peace, sustainability, and global citizenship, working to transform learning systems to better prepare future generations for the challenges of our interconnected world. He is also the author of Global Health Governance: International Law and Public Health in a Divided World, and other publications.