Kofi Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving from 1997 to 2006. He was the first black African to take on the role and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for his work in promoting human rights and international peace. Annan was a strong advocate for the Millennium Development Goals, which aimed to reduce poverty and improve healthcare and education around the world. He also worked to strengthen the UN's role in global governance and to promote international cooperation.