Vice President Kashim Shettima will today deliver the country’s national statement at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today.
Representing President Bola Tinubu, his speech is expected to cover a range of key global issues, including multilateralism, UN reform, climate action, and the restructuring of international finance.
Last year, Tinubu used the same platform to advocate for permanent seats for African nations on the UN Security Council, a proposal that is now under consideration.
On Tuesday, Shettima attended the assembly’s opening session, where he joined other world leaders and was formally welcomed by the U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following the opening, Shettima held a bilateral meeting with the new President of Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah, on the sidelines of the event.
Ndaitwah, who assumed office in March 2025, announced her plans to make an official visit to Nigeria to meet with Tinubu.
She praised Nigerian diplomats for their contributions to her country, stating, “All the Nigerian diplomats were basically Namibians, helping in so many ways.”
Shettima responded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with Namibia. “We are all Africans, and the Nigeria-Namibia relationship should be taken to the next level,” he said.
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In a separate high-level meeting, Shettima met with a delegation from the Gates Foundation, led by CEO Mark Suzman.
Shettima thanked the foundation for its support in healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion and called for increased investment in the country.
“In the Gates Foundation, we have a partner that we trust and believe in,” he said, adding that Nigeria aims to achieve an annual economic growth rate of at least seven percent.
Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, also appealed to the foundation for greater support in technology and education.
Suzman, in turn, commended the commitment of Nigeria’s leadership and pledged continued support, highlighting recent grants signed with the Central Bank of Nigeria to assist with digital financial inclusion initiatives.
