The United Nations (UN) has distanced itself from Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, denying claims that he was appointed to a position within the UN Youth Office.
The UN Youth Office said Adeyemi has no appointment, employment or affiliation with the organisation and was never authorised to represent the office or the United Nations in any capacity.
The clarification was contained in a letter dated July 27, 2026, with reference number UNYO-2026-0017, issued by the UN Youth Office through Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
The response followed a request from Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN dated July 1, seeking clarification on Adeyemi’s purported appointment and documents allegedly linked to the position.
In its response, the UN Youth Office stated that Adeyemi “holds no appointment, employment, or affiliation of any kind with the Office.”
The office further stressed that he had never been authorised to act or speak on its behalf or that of the wider United Nations system.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, disclosed the development, saying the clarification had resolved questions surrounding Adeyemi’s alleged appointment.
Ibrahim said the UN’s response also addressed controversies surrounding documents purportedly linking Adeyemi to the organisation.
The matter had generated allegations of forgery involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over documents reportedly associated with Adeyemi’s alleged appointment.
The Nigerian envoy maintained that the UN’s official position had removed any basis for presenting Adeyemi as a recognised appointee or representative of the UN Youth Office.
Ibrahim urged journalists and members of the public to rely on official communications from the United Nations and relevant authorities when reporting international appointments.
He also warned that reliance on unverified documents and claims could fuel misinformation and damage the reputations of individuals and institutions.
