UNGA 81: Shettima joins world leaders, set to present Nigeria’s position Thursday
Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday joined world leaders at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Shettima is representing President Bola Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the week-long gathering, which is being held from September 22 to 28 under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
The Vice-President, who earlier attended a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses, arrived at the General Assembly Hall alongside Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.
Other members of the Nigerian delegation include the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior government officials.
The opening session featured remarks by Guterres and addresses by several world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and United States President Donald Trump.
Shettima is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly on Thursday, where he is expected to present the country’s positions on global issues, including reform of international institutions, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action and a more equitable global economic order.
The Vice-President also made a brief stop at Nigeria House in New York on his way from the UN headquarters, accompanied by governors, ministers, presidential aides and other members of the Nigerian delegation.
Earlier, Shettima represented Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where he called for greater continental cooperation to reduce Africa’s dependence on the export of raw minerals.
He urged African countries to develop processing, manufacturing and value-addition industries around the continent’s mineral resources, saying the sector should create jobs, promote industrial growth and improve living standards.
