Muriel Mafico is UNFPA Representative for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She brings three decades of dedicated experience in international development across diverse regions, including the Arab States, Eastern Caribbean, and Southern Africa. For over two decades in the United Nations, she has driven impactful humanitarian and development programmes in population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health, social protection, gender equality, education, and youth empowerment.

Appointed as UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria in September 2025, she previously led operations in Syria, one of the world’s most complex protracted emergency contexts, focusing on emergency reproductive health services, prevention of gender-based violence, partnerships, and alliance building, and strengthening midwifery networks. Ms. Mafico’s wealth of expertise will significantly advance UNFPA’s work in supporting Nigeria's efforts to achieve sustainable population management, universal access to reproductive health services, robust social protection, and gender equity.

Prior to joining UNFPA, Mafico held various leadership roles at UNICEF in South Africa, the Eastern Caribbean, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe, focusing on child rights, health, social protection, and HIV/AIDS prevention. She also worked with the UNDP-funded Poverty Reduction Forum at the Zimbabwe Institute of Development Studies.

She holds a Master's Degree in Development Management and a Bachelor of Arts Degree.