UNGA: Shettima To Deliver Nigeria’s Statement Thursday

Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA.

Shettima, who is representing President Bola Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the global gathering, is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement before the General Assembly on Thursday, September 24.

The Vice President attended a welcome breakfast hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for Heads of Delegation and their spouses before joining other world leaders at the General Assembly Hall.

Shettima arrived at the hall alongside Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

Also in Nigeria’s delegation are 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, which is holding from September 22 to 28, is themed, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

The session opened with remarks by Guterres and addresses by world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and United States President Donald Trump.

Shettima’s address on Thursday is expected to set out Nigeria’s position on major global issues, as well as President Tinubu’s priorities on reform of international institutions, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action and a more equitable global economic order.

On his way from the United Nations 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.

Earlier, the Vice President represented President Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, AMSG.

At the event, Shettima called for a new continental push to end Africa’s dependence on the export of raw minerals and develop processing, manufacturing and value-addition industries around the continent’s critical resources.

He said Africa’s mineral wealth must translate into jobs, industrial growth and improved living standards for Africans, while urging 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 and bilateral engagements during the UNGA week as Nigeria advances its national interests and strengthens cooperation with international partners.