Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in New York to represent the country at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
This was confirmed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, on Monday.
Shettima landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in the early hours of Monday.
He was greeted by a delegation that included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. Also present were Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigerian diplomats, UN officials, and other dignitaries.
In line with President Bola Tinubu’s directives, Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation at this year’s assembly. The vice president will deliver the nation’s statement and engage in high-level discussions with other global leaders.
The 79th session of the UNGA is a significant event as it focuses on expediting the progress towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Central to the assembly is the “Summit of the Future,” which highlights the urgency of increased global cooperation to address critical issues such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and the impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises.
From September 23 to 27, the UN’s Department of Global Communications will host the SDG Media Zone, featuring interviews and discussions on key global challenges.
During this period, Heads of State and Government will gather to address gaps in global governance that have been exposed by recent global events.
The summit aims to reaffirm commitment to the SDGs and the UN Charter, while strengthening global cooperation to adapt to current challenges.
A key outcome of the summit will be the “Pact for the Future,” an actionable framework designed to reinforce multilateral cooperation and address the pressing needs of today and the future.