The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured Costa Rican UN Secretary-General candidate Rebeca Grynspan that Nigeria will back a process rooted in equity, justice, and fairness as the world body chooses its next leader, ahead of his return to the country.
Speaking during their meeting, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria’s support would go to a candidate committed to Africa’s ambitions on the global stage, including securing seats in key decision-making bodies and strengthening multilateralism.
Shettima, in a statement on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, noted that Nigeria’s ties with Latin America and its commitment to gender inclusion, among other considerations, would inform his recommendation in favour of the Costa Rican diplomat.
“Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective for your candidature of the United Nations Secretary-General. Nigeria and Costa Rica share a common historical background connecting both countries and their regions.
“We also have a cordial relationship with Latin America, and we do not wish to jeopardize it. Beyond our historical ties and relations rest our interest in conflict prevention, multilateralism, and the peace of our nations,” the VP said.
He stressed the need to overhaul global governance structures that, despite evolving between 1945 and 2026, still fail to reflect Africa’s growing weight, given its population of more than 1.3 billion people.
Grynspan, who sought Nigeria’s backing for her bid, said she was committed to leading UN reforms long demanded by countries in the Global South.
“Coming from the global south, I represent the interest and demands of the region. I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations,” she said.
She added that her candidacy would place peace at the centre of her agenda and pledged that Africa’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention under her leadership.
Separately, Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen cooperation aimed at expanding financial inclusion across Nigerian society, with the Netherlands offering its expertise in financial health to support existing Nigerian programmes.
The agreement followed a bilateral meeting in New York between Shettima and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
Shettima welcomed the Dutch offer, noting that financial inclusion policy, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, is closely tied to education, security, and poverty reduction in Nigeria.
He cited ongoing government initiatives, including the conditional cash transfer programme and agricultural sector schemes, as evidence of progress, and noted that fintech companies have been empowered to play a key role in extending financial access to excluded populations.
Defending the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, Shettima said they were unavoidable given the state of the economy when the government took office in 2023.
Queen Maxima, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, commended Nigeria’s economic growth under the current administration and pledged continued Dutch support through shared expertise in insurance, credit guarantees, and data generation.
She said the financial health initiative was designed to build citizens’ resilience, safeguard their investments, and expand insurance coverage, while urging private sector players to treat customers’ financial wellbeing as central to their own long-term success.
Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele had earlier noted that recent measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria, alongside existing insurance and pension policies, would improve access to credit and lower its cost, adding that financial inclusion remains a key priority for helping poorer Nigerians improve their livelihoods.
