Vice President Kashim Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on behalf of President Bola Tinubu Today Wednesday.
According to Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), the speech is set for 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. New York time, focusing on multilateralism, UN reform, climate action, and international finance restructuring, among other topics.
Last year, President Tinubu used the same platform to advocate for permanent African seats on the United Nations Security Council, a proposal now under consideration by the global body.
On Tuesday morning, Vice President Shettima joined other world leaders for the UNGA’s opening session, where U.S. President Donald Trump gave a keynote address to formally welcome delegates.
Later, Vice President Shettima hosted Namibian President Nandi-Ndaitwah on the sidelines for bilateral discussions, during which she announced her planned official visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who assumed office on March 21, 2025, commended Nigerian diplomats for their significant contributions to her government and country.
“All the Nigerian diplomats were basically Namibians, helping in so many ways,” she said, recognizing Nigeria’s leadership among African nations.
Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that the UNGA provided a timely opportunity to meet Vice President Shettima, stating, “I will still find time to come physically and introduce myself to the President.”
Vice President Shettima responded by pledging to strengthen Nigeria-Namibia relations, saying, “We are all Africans, and the Nigeria–Namibia relationship should be taken to the next level, beyond where it is now.”
The meeting included senior officials from both nations, such as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; and Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
In a separate high-level meeting, Vice President Shettima met with a Gates Foundation delegation led by CEO Mark Suzman, expressing gratitude for their support in healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion while urging increased investment in Nigeria.
“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,” VP Shettima said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s economic goals, Shettima 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.”
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa requested greater Gates Foundation support for education, particularly in 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.
In response, CEO Mark Suzman committed to increased investment in human capital development, education, and health, highlighting the foundation’s progress in digital identity and financial inclusion in Nigeria.
He praised the dedication of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, saying, “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,” Suzman added.
The Gates Foundation delegation included Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth and Opportunity Division; Uche Amaonwu, Country Director for Nigeria; and Paulin Basinga, Director for Africa.
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