Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States, where he presented Nigeria’s position on global governance, development financing and Africa’s economic priorities.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Nkwocha said Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 with the mandate of President Tinubu to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global gathering.
During the visit, the Vice President delivered Tinubu’s National Statement at the UNGA General Debate, reiterating Nigeria’s call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council.
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Nigeria also advocated permanent African representation on the Council, fairer global financing arrangements, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.
The presidential aide further disclosed that Shettima participated in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where he conveyed Tinubu’s call for African countries to shift from exporting raw minerals to developing local processing, manufacturing and value-addition industries.
The initiative, according to the statement, is aimed at strengthening Africa’s capacity to benefit more substantially from its natural resources and expand economic opportunities across the continent.
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At a high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to education, describing it as a critical investment in productivity, human capital development and national prosperity.
The Vice President expressed support for the Global Partnership for Education’s $5 billion financing campaign, highlighting the importance of mobilising resources to improve access to quality education.
As part of his engagements, Shettima also met with Nigerians in the Diaspora, where he emphasised the significant role their investments, professional expertise and international networks could play in driving Nigeria’s development.
Other major engagements included meetings with the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.
Nkwocha said the Vice President used the meetings to advance Nigeria’s positions on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and security.
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He added that Shettima reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to promoting a more representative and equitable global order, with stronger African participation in international decision-making.
The Vice President’s return concludes his diplomatic engagements at the 81st UN General Assembly, where Nigeria presented its priorities on international cooperation, sustainable development and Africa’s role in global governance.
