Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after a diplomatic tour that took him to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and a series of high-level engagements in Germany. He represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the global assembly, where he delivered Nigeria’s national statement and advocated for reforms that reflect the country’s growing regional and international influence.
Upon arrival in the early hours of Thursday, Shettima was received at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by senior government officials. His engagements at the UN focused on key global issues, including calls for comprehensive institutional reform within the United Nations. In his address to the General Assembly, he pushed for Nigeria to be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, stating that the current global order no longer reflects the realities of today’s world.
Shettima emphasized that Nigeria, once a colony at the time the UN was founded, is now a sovereign nation of over 236 million people, projected to become the third most populous country in the world. He described Nigeria as a stabilizing force in regional security and a consistent partner in global peacekeeping, adding that its inclusion on the Security Council is not just a matter of representation, but one of restoring credibility and fairness to the institution.
The Vice President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the UN80 Initiative and the UN resolution adopted on July 18, 2025, aimed at overhauling the structure of the global body to improve its efficiency, relevance, and effectiveness. He stated that Nigeria backs efforts to streamline UN agencies, reduce duplication of responsibilities, and enhance the coherence of its operations.
In his address, Shettima also called for urgent sovereign debt relief, better access to trade and financing for developing nations, and a fairer global economic order. He argued that countries which host valuable mineral resources must be able to benefit equitably from them, and warned that without reform, global inequalities would deepen. On digital technology, he stressed that the digital divide must be closed, noting that in the age of artificial intelligence, “AI must stand for Africa Included.”
During his stay in New York, the Vice President held a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings, including a high-level engagement with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who expressed support for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat at the Security Council. Shettima also used the visit to promote Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition plan to global investors and reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to engaging the Nigerian diaspora in national development.
Following his UN engagements, Shettima traveled to Germany for further diplomatic and economic meetings. In Germany, he met with top officials and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in clean energy, vocational training, and manufacturing. The visit was part of Nigeria’s broader push to attract foreign investment and strengthen international partnerships in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Vice President Shettima is expected to present a detailed report of his international engagements to President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council in the coming days. His trip is widely seen as a strategic step in reinforcing Nigeria’s position on the global stage and advancing its economic and diplomatic interests.
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