Guterres urges Nigeria to lead Africa in new global order, backs UNSC bid

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Nigeria to spearhead Africa’s push for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.

Guterres made the remarks on Friday during a high-level bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on the sidelines of the 39th Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He praised the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that Nigeria’s bold restructuring efforts and security commitments have strengthened its standing on the continent. The UN chief also commended Nigeria’s leadership role in stabilising the Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, despite facing internal security challenges.

According to Guterres, Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism place it in a strategic position to guide Africa in shaping an evolving global architecture.

“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.

In his remarks, Vice President Shettima thanked Guterres for his leadership in promoting global peace, noting that Africa has benefitted significantly from his tenure at the helm of the UN, even as the organisation undergoes internal reforms.

“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” Shettima said.

He also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the UN system to reflect current global realities, emphasising the need for stronger African representation in global decision-making structures. The Vice President maintained that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.