Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Nigeria will support a candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General position who believes in Africa's aspirations in global affairs. This includes securing positions in key decision-making bodies and promoting multilateralism. Shettima made these remarks during a meeting with Costa Rican candidate Rebeca Grynspan, who is vying for the position. Nigeria's support will be based on factors such as the country's relationship with Latin America and gender inclusion.
Shettima highlighted Nigeria's historical ties with Costa Rica and its interest in maintaining a cordial relationship with Latin America. He emphasized the need to reform the global governance architecture to reflect Africa's integration, given its population of over 1.3 billion people. Grynspan, in her remarks, expressed her eagerness to lead the UN in implementing reforms and changes advocated by countries in the Global South. She represents the interests and demands of the region and has a soft spot for Africa.
Grynspan's candidature prioritizes peace above other interests and aims to actualize Africa's ambition of being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. She has experience working with the UN and is well-versed in the needs of the Global South. Her agenda aligns with Nigeria's aspirations for a more equitable global order. Shettima welcomed Grynspan's commitment to promoting peace and addressing Africa's concerns.
In a related development, Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen collaboration on financial inclusion. The Netherlands will share its expertise and experience in financial health to support Nigeria's programs. This agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between Shettima and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in New York. The Queen also doubles as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health.
Shettima welcomed the offer of support from the Netherlands, noting that it is timely and has a direct link to education, security, and poverty reduction. He highlighted existing programs implemented by the government to boost financial inclusion, such as the conditional cash transfer initiative and schemes in the agricultural sector. These programs have yielded positive results across different sectors.
Queen Maxima acknowledged Nigeria's strong economic growth under the current administration and commended efforts to boost financial inclusion. She pledged the Netherlands' support in sharing experience and expertise in insurance, credit guarantee, and data generation. The Queen emphasized the need for stakeholders in the private sector to prioritize financial health as a critical determinant of a company's future and progress.
The Nigerian government has positioned some of Africa's top fintech companies to play critical roles in achieving financial inclusion. The administration's reforms, undertaken by President Bola Tinubu, aim to address the country's economic challenges. The Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, noted that existing policies on insurance and pensions, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria's recent announcement, will boost access to credit in Nigeria.
Key points
- Nigeria will support a UN Secretary-General candidate who prioritizes equity, justice, and fairness and believes in Africa's aspirations in global affairs.
- Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen collaboration on financial inclusion, with the Netherlands sharing its expertise and experience in financial health.
- The Nigerian government has implemented programs to boost financial inclusion, including conditional cash transfer initiatives and schemes in the agricultural sector.
