Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leading the country's delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 with the mandate of President Tinubu to represent Nigeria at the annual gathering of world leaders and present the country's position on issues of national, regional and global importance.
The 81st UN General Assembly held under the theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all." During his participation at the General Assembly, the Vice President delivered Nigeria's national statement on behalf of President Tinubu, using the global platform to restate the country's position on reform of international institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council.
Nigeria renews call for UN Security Council reform At the General Debate, Shettima renewed Nigeria's call for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, alongside broader reforms aimed at making the global body more representative of contemporary geopolitical realities. The Nigerian delegation also advanced the country's position on development financing, climate action, peace and security, technology access and multilateral cooperation.
The Federal Government had said ahead of the General Assembly that Nigeria's participation would be guided by national interest, commitment to multilateralism and President Tinubu's advocacy for reforms that would give developing countries a stronger voice in global decision-making. Shettima's participation also provided an opportunity for Nigeria to engage world leaders, international organisations and development partners on issues considered important to the country's economic and diplomatic interests.
Africa's mineral resources take centre stage One of the major engagements of the Vice President during the visit was his participation in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group. At the meeting, Shettima, representing President Tinubu, called for a shift away from Africa's longstanding dependence on the export of raw minerals.
The Vice President also met with members of the Nigerian community in the Diaspora during his stay in New York. The engagement provided an opportunity for the government to highlight the contribution of Nigerians living abroad to national development, particularly through investment, professional expertise, technology, business networks and international connections.
Shettima's return to Nigeria followed the conclusion of his engagements at the UNGA, where he presented Nigeria's positions on a range of issues, including development financing, economic cooperation, regional integration, technology, climate action, peace and security. The Federal Government said the Vice President's participation was also aimed at advancing President Tinubu's economic diplomacy and deepening strategic partnerships with countries, international institutions and development organisations.
Key points
- Vice President Shettima led Nigeria's delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- Shettima delivered Nigeria's national statement on behalf of President Tinubu, restating the country's position on reform of international institutions.
- The Vice President called for a shift away from Africa's dependence on the export of raw minerals, promoting processing, manufacturing and value addition within African countries.
