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 includes securing greater representation for the continent in key decision-making bodies and strengthening multilateralism. Shettima made this statement during a meeting with Costa Rica's candidate for the UN Secretary-General position, Rebeca Grynspan.
Rebeca Grynspan, a former Vice President of Costa Rica, was formally nominated by her country in March 2026 in the race to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General. She met with Shettima shortly before he returned to Nigeria from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to a statement issued by Shettima's media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Nigeria's position would be guided by the principles of equity, justice, and fairness.
Shettima emphasized that Nigeria would support a candidate who recognizes Africa's demand for a greater role in global governance, particularly in the reform of the United Nations and increased representation in key decision-making institutions. He also stressed that Nigeria's decision would take into consideration its longstanding relations with Latin America, commitment to conflict prevention, multilateralism, and gender inclusion.
The Vice President argued that the global governance architecture established in 1945 no longer adequately reflected contemporary demographic and political realities, particularly Africa's growing population and increasing importance in international affairs. Africa, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, deserved a more prominent place in global decision-making, especially as demands intensified for reforms that would make multilateral institutions more representative.
Grynspan responded by stating that her candidature was driven by the need to reform the United Nations and make the organization more responsive to the aspirations of developing countries, particularly those in the Global South. She pledged to prioritize peace and address structural challenges confronting the UN, while giving attention to Africa's campaign for greater representation in the Security Council.
In a related development, Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to economic reforms during a bilateral meeting with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in New York. They discussed deeper cooperation on financial inclusion and financial health, particularly for women and vulnerable groups. Shettima highlighted the role of Nigerian fintech companies in expanding financial access.
The engagement comes as Nigeria's financial exclusion rate fell to 21 percent in 2026, although exclusion remains substantially higher among poorer households. Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, said the government was pursuing financial inclusion as part of broader efforts to improve livelihoods. Queen Máxima pledged support for Nigeria's financial-health initiatives.
Key points
- Nigeria will support a UN Secretary-General candidate committed to advancing Africa's global aspirations.
- The country seeks a candidate who recognizes Africa's demand for a greater role in global governance.
- Nigeria and the Netherlands discussed deeper cooperation on financial inclusion and financial health.
