Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Nigeria will support a candidate for the next United Nations Secretary General who is committed to Africa's interests. He made this statement during separate meetings in New York with Costa Rica's candidate for the UN Secretary General position, Rebeca Grynspan, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Shettima emphasized that Nigeria's position would be guided by equity, justice, fairness, and the aspirations of Africa.
During his meeting with Grynspan, Shettima said Nigeria would support a candidate who is committed to multilateralism, conflict prevention, and reforms that would give Africa a stronger voice in global affairs. He also considered Nigeria's long-standing relationship with Latin America, gender inclusion, and the need for greater African representation in international institutions. Shettima noted that Nigeria's interests included maintaining its relationship with Latin America, promoting peace, and strengthening multilateral cooperation.
Shettima highlighted that the global governance system had changed significantly since 1945 but had not adequately reflected Africa's growing population and strategic importance. With over 1.3 billion people, Africa deserves stronger representation in major global decision-making institutions, especially the UN Security Council. Grynspan said she was ready to support reforms demanded by countries, particularly those in the Global South, and promised to prioritize peace and support Africa's demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
In a separate meeting with Queen Máxima, Shettima discussed ways Nigeria and the Netherlands could strengthen cooperation on financial inclusion and financial wellbeing, especially for women and vulnerable groups. Queen Máxima, who is the UN Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, offered Dutch expertise to support Nigeria's efforts to expand access to financial services.
Shettima welcomed the offer, saying financial wellbeing was closely connected to education, security, poverty reduction, and the economic welfare of Nigerians. He highlighted the Federal Government's conditional cash transfer program and agricultural interventions as part of efforts to create more economic opportunities for vulnerable Nigerians. Shettima also noted the contribution of Nigerian fintech companies to expanding financial services to millions of people who were previously excluded from the formal financial system.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said government policies on insurance and pensions, as well as recent measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria, would help improve access to credit and reduce its cost. He added that financial inclusion remained a major priority of the Tinubu administration as the government seeks to help low-income Nigerians improve their livelihoods.
The meetings with Grynspan and Queen Máxima reflect Nigeria's efforts to engage with international partners and promote its interests on the global stage. The country's position on the UN Secretary General candidate is expected to be guided by its commitment to Africa's interests and its aspirations for stronger representation in global affairs.
Key points
- Nigeria will support a UN Secretary General candidate committed to Africa's interests and stronger representation in global affairs.
- The country seeks to strengthen cooperation with international partners on financial inclusion and financial wellbeing.
- Government policies aim to improve access to credit and reduce its cost for low-income Nigerians.
