UN Approves New Learning Institute, Nigeria Backs Merger

The UN General Assembly has approved the merger of two United Nations learning and training bodies, creating a new institution designed to strengthen support for both member states and the UN system itself. In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the 193-member Assembly, including Nigeria, endorsed the integration of the UN System Staff College (UNSSC) into the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). They also approved the establishment of the UN Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation (UNICLI) from January 2027. The decision is part of the wider UN80 Initiative, which aims to make the United Nations more coherent, effective and responsive to today’s challenges. The new institute will combine UNITAR’s work helping governments, diplomats and public institutions build skills and capacity with UNSSC’s expertise in training, leadership development and knowledge-sharing for UN personnel. “Member States and the United Nations system are facing increasingly complex and interconnected challenges.