Nigeria’s outing at 81st UNGA will be guided by national interest – Shettima
By Oluokun Ayorinde with agency report
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigerian’s engagements at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will be guided by the country’s national interest.
Shetimma said this as he arrived in arrived in New York, United States, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of UNGA.
The Nigerian Vice President was received by Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent representative to the UN, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumemegwu Ojukwu, ministers and other Nigerian officials on arrival in New York.
He added that Nigeria’s engagement at the global forum will also be guided by commitment to multilateralism and President Tinubu’s consistent advocacy for reforms of global institutions to reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities.
“Our message in New York is clear: Nigeria believes in multilateralism, but the institutions that govern our world must become more representative, equitable and responsive to the realities of today.
“We will engage our partners firmly from the standpoint of Nigeria’s national interest, while advancing President Tinubu’s call for a global system that gives developing countries a stronger voice and a fairer opportunity to prosper.”
According to News Agency of Nigeria Shettima will address the UN General Assembly on Thursday afternoon, thus delivering the country’s national statement for the third consecutive year.
A provisional speakers’ schedule places Nigeria fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate on Sept. 24.
Nigeria’s Thursday slot places its statement on the third day of the General Debate, traditionally one of the most closely watched events of UN high-level week.
Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, said Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and outline the country’s positions on major international issues.
Thursday’s appearance will mark the third successive UN General Assembly at which Shettima will represent Tinubu in the General Debate.
Shettima represented the President at the 79th Session in 2024 and again delivered Nigeria’s statement at the 80th Session in 2025.
Tinubu personally addressed the 78th Session of the General Assembly in September 2023, months after assuming office as President.
With the latest announcement, Shettima has represented the President at the annual gathering of world leaders in 2024, 2025 and now 2026.
The Presidency said the Vice-President would lead a high-level delegation comprising Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior officials.
Besides the national statement, Shettima is expected to participate in high-level meetings on issues considered strategically important to Nigeria and Africa.
The Vice-President will hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the Assembly.
The 81st UN General Debate opens on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and continues through Saturday before concluding on Monday, Sept. 28.
The UN’s annual debate provides Heads of State, Heads of Government and other senior representatives an opportunity to outline national priorities before the international community.
The theme of the 81st Session is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”
The session is being presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.
The General Assembly brings together all 193 UN Member States, each with equal representation in the organisation’s principal deliberative and policymaking body.