Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to deliver Nigeria’s national statement before the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, laying out President Bola Tinubu’s priorities on global institutional reform, sustainable development and international security.
Shettima joined world leaders Tuesday at UN Headquarters in New York for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st Session, representing Tinubu and heading Nigeria’s delegation to the summit.
He had earlier attended a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses.
The Vice President arrived at the General Assembly Hall alongside Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Also accompanying him were Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s UN Permanent Representative Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior officials.
Running from September 22 to 28 under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all,” the General Debate opened with remarks from Guterres and addresses by leaders including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and US President Donald Trump.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s address on Thursday, September 24 will cover climate action, peace and security, and calls for a more equitable global economic order.
Following the session, Shettima and members of the delegation made a brief stop at Nigeria House in New York.
Earlier in his New York schedule, Shettima represented Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where he pushed for a continental strategy to move Africa beyond raw mineral exports toward processing and manufacturing.
He argued that Africa’s resource wealth should translate into jobs and industrial growth, and called on African nations to cooperate rather than undercut one another through resource concessions.
The Vice President is expected to take part in additional high-level and bilateral meetings throughout UNGA week as part of Nigeria’s broader diplomatic push.
