Dr Kandeh Yumkella is at the UN this week

Sierra Leone Telegraph: 16 September 2015

The month of September is a very busy period in New York. And as always, Heads of State fly in to New York from their respective capitals to attend the Annual UN General Assembly.

The 70th Session which opened yesterday, will see a flurry of activities at the UN Headquarters, including the visit of His Holiness – Pope Francis, who is scheduled to address the 183 Member States.

As high-level dignitaries show-up, flanked by high-level security, Sierra Leonean presidential aspirant – Kandeh Yumkella is at the UN for a series of high-level engagements, including briefing UN countries on the state of energy access around the world, along with  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

Today, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, thanked outgoing CEO & Special Representative of the Secretary-General – Kandeh K. Yumkella, as they  welcome in the new CEO & SRSG – Ms. Rachel Kyte to the member States’ briefing on Sustainable Energy for All (Photo above).

Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is the only Sierra Leonean to be elected twice to lead a UN specialized agency.

Yumkella is also the pioneer CEO and creator of Sustainable Energy for All, and the only Sierra Leone presidential aspirant to be present at this year’s UNGA.

But Yumkella is no stranger to the UN General Assembly.

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, 2015, Dr. Yumkella will join the high-level meeting via video conference to discuss a “New Deal for Energy on Africa”, in support of the new President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s vision for the Bank.

Dr. Adesina has called specifically for Africans to “light up and power Africa”, using the continent’s energy resources that are in abundance.

Dr. Yumkella is also co-founder of the African Energy Leaders Group. Among many bi-lateral meetings he will be attending at the UN this week, Yumkella will also take part in a high-level event: “Implementing Sustainable Development Goal # 7 –Ensuring Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”

You will be able to see the live briefing here:

http://www.se4all.org/2015/09/16/se4all-progress-made-new-leadership-long-term-arrangements-sdg7-and-the-2030-agenda-for-sustainable-development/