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| Photo credit — Vice President Kashim Shettima |
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. He departed Abuja on September 20 and used the high-level gathering to advance several of Nigeria’s longstanding priorities on the global stage.
UNGA remains one of the most important annual forums for world leaders to address issues of peace, development, climate, and institutional reform. For Nigeria, participation carries particular weight given its role as Africa’s most populous country and a leading voice on continental concerns.
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National Statement and Call for UN Security Council Reform
During the General Debate, Shettima delivered President Tinubu’s National Statement. Nigeria renewed its call for meaningful reform of the United Nations Security Council. The statement emphasized the need for permanent African representation, fairer global financing arrangements, stronger support for climate action, and deeper multilateral cooperation.
These themes are not new. African countries have long argued that the Security Council’s current structure, rooted in the post-World War II era, does not adequately reflect today’s geopolitical and demographic realities. Nigeria’s position aligns with broader African Union advocacy for at least two permanent seats for the continent with full rights, including the veto. By restating these demands at UNGA, Nigeria keeps the issue visible and signals continuity in its foreign policy under the Tinubu administration.
Focus on Value Addition in Africa’s Minerals Sector
Shettima also took part in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group. In that forum, President Tinubu’s message urged African nations to move beyond simply exporting raw minerals. Instead, the emphasis was placed on processing, manufacturing, and broader value addition within the continent.
Africa holds significant reserves of critical minerals needed for the global energy transition and technology industries. The push for local value chains aims to create more jobs, retain more economic benefits, and reduce dependence on commodity price cycles. This aligns with wider continental strategies that seek industrialization and economic diversification.
Education Financing and Human Capital
At a high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to education as a critical investment in productivity, human capital development, and national prosperity. He expressed support for the Global Partnership for Education’s $5 billion financing campaign.
Education remains a core development priority for many African countries facing demographic pressures and skills gaps. Framing education spending as an investment rather than a cost is consistent with efforts to improve learning outcomes, expand access, and prepare young populations for a changing economy.
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Engagement with the Diaspora and Regional Partners
The Vice President met with Nigerians in the Diaspora, highlighting the importance of their investment, professional expertise, and networks for national development. Diaspora communities often play a significant role through remittances, knowledge transfer, and business linkages. These meetings help reinforce two-way engagement between the homeland and Nigerians living abroad.
Other key engagements included discussions with the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission and a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed. Across these interactions, Shettima advanced Nigeria’s positions on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, peace, and security. He also reiterated President Tinubu’s broader call for a more representative and equitable global order.
Broader Significance
Taken together, the UNGA engagements illustrate a consistent set of priorities: institutional reform that better includes Africa, economic strategies that retain more value on the continent, investment in people through education, and stronger partnerships at regional and global levels. These themes connect domestic policy goals—such as economic diversification and human capital development—with Nigeria’s international advocacy.
As Shettima returns, attention will turn to how these diplomatic positions translate into concrete follow-up at home and in multilateral forums. The 81st UNGA provided a platform to restate Nigeria’s views; the next steps will depend on sustained engagement and implementation.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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