Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Vice President is scheduled to join other global leaders at the commemoration of the UN’s 80th anniversary on Monday, September 22, at the UN headquarters. He will also participate in the high-level general debates running from Tuesday, September 23, through Sunday, September 28.

On behalf of President Tinubu, VP Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement on Wednesday, September 24, between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., New York time. The statement is expected to cover Nigeria’s position on global security, economic cooperation, and multilateral diplomacy.

In addition, the Vice President will attend a special UN Climate event for Heads of State and Government on the same day from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., where Nigeria will formally announce its new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. “Nigeria remains committed to global climate action, and our updated NDCs reflect a balanced approach to sustainable development and emissions reduction,” a statement from the Office of the Vice President said. Senator Shettima is also scheduled to attend the high-level roundtable on Adequate and Affordable Housing hosted by the President of Kenya, an event aimed at promoting practical solutions to the global housing deficit. The Vice President’s engagements will include bilateral meetings and other UNGA-related events. Following the conclusion of the General Assembly, he will travel to Frankfurt, Germany, to meet with officials of Deutsche Bank before returning to Nigeria.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications at the Office of the Vice President, said: “Vice President Shettima’s participation underscores Nigeria’s active role in global governance. He will articulate Nigeria’s positions on critical issues, ranging from climate commitments to housing, and engage international partners on investment and economic collaboration.”

The Nigerian delegation’s participation in the 80th UNGA is seen as part of President Tinubu’s broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and promote national interests in global forums.

The guardian