Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima has stated that the country will support a candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General who is committed to advancing Africa's aspirations in global affairs. This commitment is guided by the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, particularly in addressing Africa's concerns in the international system. Shettima made this statement during a meeting with Costa Rica's candidate for the UN Secretary-General position, Rebeca Grynspan.
Shettima emphasized that Nigeria's decision will consider the candidate's commitment to recognizing the continent's right to a greater role in global governance. This includes the reform of the United Nations and the expansion of Africa's representation in key decision-making institutions. Nigeria's longstanding relations with Latin America, conflict prevention, multilateralism, and gender inclusion will also be taken into account. The Vice-President highlighted the importance of these factors in maintaining a cordial relationship with Latin America.
The existing global governance architecture, established in 1945, has been criticized for failing to reflect the demographic and political realities of the contemporary world. Africa, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, deserves a more prominent place in global decision-making. Shettima argued that the current system is inadequate, particularly at a time when countries are advocating for reforms to make multilateral institutions more representative.
Grynspan, a former Vice-President of Costa Rica, expressed her commitment to advancing Africa's interests. Her background and understanding of the challenges confronting developing countries will inform her leadership of the global body. She pledged to prioritize peace and address the structural challenges confronting the United Nations. Grynspan also assured that Africa's ambition to secure permanent membership of the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention under her leadership.
Grynspan's appeal to Nigeria underscores the importance of Africa's position in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General. Developing countries continue to demand a more inclusive international system. She proposed an agenda that places peace above competing interests while pursuing institutional changes needed to strengthen the organization's effectiveness and credibility.
In a related development, Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to economic reforms. The measures introduced by President Bola Tinubu's administration are necessary to address the country's economic challenges. The Vice-President made this statement during a bilateral meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in New York, United States. Both countries agreed to deepen cooperation on financial inclusion and financial health.
The Netherlands will deploy its expertise in financial health to support Nigeria's existing programs, with particular emphasis on insurance, credit guarantees, and data generation. Shettima welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely, given the relationship between financial inclusion and Nigeria's broader development priorities. The collaboration aims to improve citizens' resilience, protect their investments, and strengthen access to insurance schemes.
Key points
- Nigeria will support a UN Secretary-General candidate who prioritizes Africa's representation in key decision-making bodies and promotes multilateralism.
- The existing global governance architecture has been criticized for failing to reflect the demographic and political realities of the contemporary world.
- Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen cooperation on financial inclusion and financial health.
