Nigeria has renewed its campaign for permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council as Vice President Kashim Shettima returned from an eight-day diplomatic mission to New York.
Shettima arrived in Abuja on Sunday after departing Nigeria on September 20 to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
At the General Debate of the UNGA, Shettima delivered Nigeria’s national statement and called for reforms to the Security Council to reflect present-day geopolitical realities.
Nigeria specifically advocated permanent African representation on the council, alongside broader reforms to make the global governance system more representative, equitable and responsive.
The renewed campaign is part of Nigeria’s longstanding advocacy for an expanded Security Council, amid calls by African countries for greater representation in the UN’s most powerful decision-making body.
During the visit, Shettima also used his engagements to advance Nigeria’s interests in development financing, education, climate action, regional integration, economic cooperation, peace and security.
At the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, he conveyed Tinubu’s call for African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and focus on processing, manufacturing and value addition.
The Federal Government has increasingly identified domestic and regional value chains as central to Africa’s economic transformation, particularly in exploiting the continent’s mineral resources.
At a high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to education as an investment in human capital, productivity and national development.
Nigeria also backed the Global Partnership for Education’s $5bn financing campaign, stressing the need for increased international investment in education, particularly in developing countries.
The Vice President also met Nigerians in the Diaspora, urging them to contribute to national development through investment, expertise, innovation and professional networks.
His engagements included meetings with the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States Commission and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.
The discussions covered regional integration, economic cooperation, development financing, peace and security, reflecting Nigeria’s broader diplomatic priorities in Africa and the international system.
Shettima’s assignment followed Tinubu’s decision to delegate him to represent Nigeria at the UN General Assembly while the President remained in Europe on an extended working vacation.
The Vice President’s return comes as the administration continues to use multilateral diplomacy to advance Nigeria’s economic and strategic interests.
At the UN, Nigeria presented its case for greater African representation in global institutions while also seeking stronger access to development finance, increased climate support and a multilateral system capable of responding to emerging global challenges.
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