UNGA 80: Shettima To Deliver Tinubu’s National Statement Wednesday
UNGA 80: Shettima To Deliver Tinubu’s National Statement Wednesday
* Multilateralism, UN reform, climate action, financial reform, others top agenda
* Holds bilateral meetings with Namibian President, Gates Foundation
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, will on Wednesday, deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the ongoing 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The address is scheduled between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. New York time with multilateralism, UN Reform, Climate Action, International finance restructure, amongst others, top on the agenda.
Using same medium last year, President Tinubu had called for Africa to be allocated permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council, a push which is now being considered by the global organ.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shettima joined other world leaders for the Assembly’s opening session, where U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address formally welcoming delegates.
Afterwards, the vice-president played host to the President of Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitbia on the sidelines where both leaders engaged in bilateral talks wherein the Namibian leader announced her planned official visit to President Tinubu in Nigeria.
The Namibian leader, who assumed the presidency on March 21, 2025, praised Nigerian diplomats for their invaluable contributions to her government and country in so many ways.
“All the Nigerian diplomats were basically Namibians, helping in so many ways,” she stated, acknowledging Nigeria’s leadership role among African member-states.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said she found it appropriate to leverage the UNGA opportunity to meet with Shettima, promising: “I will still find time to come physically and introduce myself to the president.”
The vice-president, in response, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Namibia, saying: “We are all Africans, and the Nigeria–Namibia relationship should be taken to the next level, beyond where it is now.”
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; and Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
In another high-level session, Shettima met with a delegation from the Gates Foundation led by CEO Mark Suzman during which he thanked the Foundation for its support in healthcare, agriculture and financial inclusion, while calling for expanded investment in Nigeria.
According to him, “In the Gates Foundation, we have a partner that we trust and believe in. If all high-net-worth individuals made even half the investment Bill Gates has made, the world would be a better place. Kindly convey the highest regards of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Mr Gates.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s growth ambitions, the vice-president added: “Our target over the next few years is to achieve annual growth rates of no less than seven per cent, anchored on macroeconomic stability, improved productivity, and strategic investment in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and education.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Alausa, appealed for greater Gates Foundation support in education, especially in the areas of technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“What I want to put on the table to the Gates Foundation is increased investment in education. I have met with your representatives in Africa, and they indicated that the initial focus over the years had been on child nutrition but not education. Now I think there is more focus on education, so I am seeking enhanced support in that area to bolster our foundational education. We don’t have adequate support at all,” the minister said.
Responding, CEO Suzman pledged enhanced investment in human capital development, education and health, noting the foundation’s significant progress in digital identity and digital financial inclusion in Nigeria.
He commended the strong commitment of President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima, stating: “Nigeria is really one of our strongest partnerships on the African continent, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you about where and how we might be more helpful while assuring you of our continued support.
“We just signed new grants with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support related initiatives, and we are very encouraged by your broader efforts.”
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* Multilateralism, UN reform, climate action, financial reform, others top agenda * Holds bilateral meetings with Namibian President, Gates Foundation Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of
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