Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined other world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the opening of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Representing President Bola Tinubu, Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation and is expected to present the country’s national statement to the General Assembly on Thursday, September 24.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Shettima had earlier attended a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses.
The Vice President later arrived at the General Assembly Hall with the governors of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal; Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara.
Other members of Nigeria’s delegation include Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior government officials.
The UN General Debate is taking place from September 22 to 28 under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” The opening sessions featured remarks from Secretary-General Guterres and speeches by several world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and US President Donald Trump.
During his address, Shettima is expected to outline Nigeria’s position on key international issues, including institutional reforms, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action and efforts toward a fairer global economic system.
Earlier in New York, the Vice President represented President Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group. He called for greater efforts by African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead develop processing, manufacturing and value-added industries.
Shettima stressed that Africa’s vast mineral resources should contribute to job creation, industrial development and better living standards. He also encouraged stronger cooperation among African nations to ensure the continent gains greater value from its natural resources.
The Vice President is expected to participate in several other high-level meetings and bilateral engagements during UNGA week as Nigeria seeks to strengthen international partnerships and advance its national interests.
