By Agbonavbare Victor Omoegbe
Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Thursday present Nigeria’s position on the reform of global institutions and other major international issues before world leaders at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
Shettima, who is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the global gathering, is expected to use the national statement to articulate the President’s priorities on sustainable development, peace and security, climate action and the push for a more equitable global economic order.
The Vice President on Tuesday joined other world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st UNGA.
A statement on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima had earlier attended a welcome breakfast hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for Heads of Delegation and their spouses.
The Vice President arrived at the General Assembly Hall in company with Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Also in the Nigerian delegation were the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior government officials.
The General Debate, holding from September 22 to 28, has as its theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
It opened with remarks by Guterres and addresses by world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and United States President Donald Trump.
According to the statement, Shettima’s address on Thursday will set out Nigeria’s position on major global issues as well as Tinubu’s priorities for the reform of international institutions.
The administration has consistently canvassed changes to the architecture of global governance to make international institutions more representative of contemporary economic and demographic realities, particularly the interests of developing countries.
On his way from the UN Headquarters, Shettima, accompanied by governors, ministers, presidential aides and other members of the Nigerian delegation, made a brief stop at Nigeria House in New York. NigeriaTourism Info
Earlier in his engagements in New York, the Vice President represented Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), where he called for a fresh continental push to end Africa’s dependence on the export of raw minerals.
He urged African countries to build processing, manufacturing and value-addition industries around the continent’s critical mineral resources.
Shettima said Africa’s mineral wealth must translate into jobs, industrial growth and improved living standards for Africans, stressing the need for countries on the continent to strengthen cooperation rather than compete through concessions that diminish the value of their resources.
The Vice President is also scheduled to participate in other high-level meetings and bilateral engagements during the UNGA week as Nigeria seeks to advance its national interests and deepen cooperation with international partners