Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived back in Nigeria on Monday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
At a high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to education while supporting the Global Partnership for Education’s 5 billion US dollar financing campaign. The Vice President described education as “a critical investment in productivity, human capital and national prosperity.”
Shettima had departed Abuja on 20 September after being mandated by President Tinubu to lead the Nigerian delegation to the annual global gathering. Delivering Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate, the Vice President renewed the country’s call for reforms to the United Nations Security Council, reiterating the President’s vision for a fairer and more representative global order.
A statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, detailed that “Nigeria advocated permanent African representation on the council, fairer global financing, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.”
Addressing the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Tinubu urged African nations to move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead prioritize processing, manufacturing, and value addition.
The Vice President also engaged with Nigerians in the Diaspora, where he highlighted the importance of their investments, expertise, and networks to national development. According to the official statement, Shettima emphasized that their contributions remain vital to driving domestic progress and economic growth.
Shettima concluded his engagements by meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, as well as the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States Commission. The talks focused on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, alongside peace and security.