At UNGA, Shettima Meets UN Secretary-General Over Nigeria’s Security Council Bid, UNDP Partnership, Others

·Nigeria, UK forge strategic partnership on trade, defence, migration

·Tuggar hails country’s statement as bold, inclusive 

Deji Elumoye and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has met with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States to discuss key issues, including Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and other matters of mutual interest.

This was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has commended the nation’s position delivered by the Vice President Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), describing it as both “forward-looking and deeply rooted in Africa’s realities.”

Shettima, according to a release issued yesterday by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, emphasised the need for the UN to “support Nigeria even more so that we achieve more,” highlighting that “we are aspiring to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

The two leaders also held bilateral discussions focusing on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, collaboration on strengthening democracy in Nigeria and the African region, and partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on regional initiatives for democracy and security.

Providing more insight into the VP-UN Secretary-General meeting, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, said the Nigerian delegation had a very cordial engagement with the UN Secretary-General.

He highlighted Guterres’ comments on artificial intelligence and his hope and expectation that Nigeria will continue to play a significant role in that field.

“He was extremely happy when we mentioned that Nigeria, just a few days ago, released our first multilingual and multimodal large language model—the first of its kind on the African continent, backed by any government.

“Even as we were leaving, he (Guterres) mentioned that he would love to see Nigeria support other African countries to ensure Africa is not left behind in artificial intelligence and that we can leverage it properly for development,” the minister disclosed.

On his part, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, stressed that the Nigerian government had fruitful discussions with the United Nations Secretary-General, highlighting President Tinubu’s administration’s efforts in addressing humanitarian crises and poverty reduction.

According to Sununu; “We highlighted that we have one of the largest national social registers containing almost 18.9 million households, and we have reached over 8.1 million Nigerians through conditional cash transfers.

“We also highlighted the government’s efforts to promote inclusivity for people with disabilities.”

Furthermore, he stated that both parties shared ideas on durable solutions to address ongoing challenges.

The minister added that the Humanitarian Ministry is affected by funding reductions to UN organisations, noting that the World Food Programme (WFP) currently supports about 1.3 million Nigerians receiving emergency food transfers.

Sununu stressed that the federal government is working earnestly to “fill the gap.”

He disclosed that the UN Secretary-General assured Nigeria of continued support to improve the ministry’s capacity, authenticate its national social register, and secure more funding for intervention and poverty reduction activities.

“Generally, the Secretary-General thanked the Nigerian government, especially the President, for ongoing support to the United Nations and assured us that the UN will continue to support Nigeria’s wishes and aspirations.”

Earlier, the Vice President held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Lammy MP.

The UK and Nigerian leaders pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, economy, defence, and migration.

The Vice President also attended the Global Leadership Council Meeting, assuring that Nigeria is poised to leverage opportunities in the digital space to engage youths and empower women and girls.

The Global Leadership Council Meeting, held at UNICEF Headquarters, Henry Labouisse Hall, 3 United Nations Plaza, United States, brought together Heads of State, CEOs, heads of UN agencies, civil society champions, and young people to analyse how to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.

“Be assured that we are poised to take opportunities in the digital space to engage our youth and, most importantly, to empower our women because they are the backbone of our society,” Shettima said, adding that inclusivity, which is very crucial, is one of the backbones of President Tinubu’s administration, exemplified by young people occupying key positions in Nigeria’s government.

Shedding more light on the visit to the United Nations, Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Tuggar disclosed that the UN has a very strong presence in Nigeria, with many of its agencies domiciled in the country.

He told journalists after the Vice President met with Guterres that the UN Secretary-General commended the Vice President for emphasising Nigeria’s need for a permanent position on the UN Security Council.

The minister said the address struck the right balance between national priorities and regional obligations, while positioning Nigeria as a strong advocate for fairness, reform, and inclusivity on the global stage.

“The statement was inspiring, but also sobering—it reminded the world that Africa, and particularly West Africa, is not just a recipient of global decisions but an active shaper of them. By calling for UN reform and demanding equitable representation, Nigeria once again affirmed that Africa’s voice must be heard where decisions affecting humanity are taken,” Tuggar said.

On peace and security, Tuggar praised the emphasis on shared responsibility, noting that Nigeria and its ECOWAS partners continue to stand at the frontline of efforts to stabilise the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel. He added that Nigeria’s enduring role in peacekeeping demonstrates the country’s dual position as both “a guarantor of peace for others and a defender of peace at home.”

Highlighting the economic dimensions of the national statement, the minister observed that the call for a new financial architecture, debt justice, and local industrialisation is in line with Africa’s aspirations under ECOWAS and AfCFTA.

“Nigeria is insisting that our minerals, our agriculture, and our human capital must serve our people first. This is the essence of economic diplomacy, and it is central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Tuggar remarked.

On climate change and digital inclusion, Tuggar stressed that the solutions outlined in the statement are practical and people-focused, with clear benefits for vulnerable communities, women, and youth.

The Foreign Minister said the national statement should be seen as “a sub-regional call to action.”

He noted that: “Nigeria has once again reminded the world that no country is safe until all are safe, and no region can prosper unless all its people are included. ECOWAS and the African Union remain our natural partners in ensuring that diplomacy delivers tangible results for our citizens.”