Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived back in Nigeria after standing in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
Shettima had left Abuja on September 20 after being directed by President Tinubu to lead the Nigerian delegation to the annual international gathering. During the event, the Vice President engaged in several high-level meetings and outlined Nigeria’s stance on critical global and regional issues.
A statement released on Monday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), confirmed that Shettima represented the President throughout the diplomatic summits in New York.
While in the United States, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s National Statement at the General Debate. The address reiterated Nigeria’s demand for UN Security Council reforms, including permanent seats for African nations, more equitable global financial systems, enhanced climate assistance, and deeper multilateral ties.
Additionally, Shettima attended the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group. At this session, President Tinubu called on African countries to shift away from exporting raw materials and instead prioritize local processing, manufacturing, and value creation.
During an event on education funding jointly hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Senator Shettima underscored Nigeria’s dedication to supporting education as a cornerstone for human capital, productivity, and national growth, while endorsing the Global Partnership for Education’s $5 billion funding target.
The Vice President also met with members of the Nigerian diaspora, highlighting how their investments, knowledge, and international networks remain vital to the country’s development.
His diplomatic itinerary also featured discussions with the newly appointed leadership of the ECOWAS Commission as well as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.
Throughout these engagements, Senator Shettima promoted Nigeria’s goals regarding development funding, regional integration, economic ties, technology, peace, and security, while maintaining President Tinubu’s push for a fairer and more inclusive international framework.
With these diplomatic duties complete, the Vice President has now returned home after steering Nigeria’s participation at the 81st UN General Assembly session on behalf of the President.
