Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
Shettima left Abuja on September 20 to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual international gathering.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s national statement during the General Debate.
“During the visit, VP Shettima delivered President Tinubu’s National Statement at the General Debate, where Nigeria renewed its call for reform of the UN Security Council, demanding permanent African representation, fairer global financing, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation,” the statement said.
Shettima also attended the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where President Tinubu called on African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and focus more on processing, manufacturing and adding value.
At an education financing event jointly hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima restated Nigeria’s commitment to education as an important investment in productivity, human capital and national development.
“At the high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Senator Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to education as a critical investment in productivity, human capital and national prosperity, while supporting the Global Partnership for Education’s $5bn financing campaign.”
The Vice President also met with Nigerians living abroad, highlighting the role of their investments, expertise and networks in supporting Nigeria’s development.
His other engagements included meetings with the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.
The statement said Shettima used the meetings to promote Nigeria’s positions on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and security, while restating President Tinubu’s call for a more representative and equitable global order.