New York, USA – Vice President Kashim Shettima has formally advocated for Nigeria to be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during a high-level meeting with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York.
The meeting, which focused on strengthening Nigeria’s partnership with the global body, also covered critical areas such as climate change, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and bolstering democracy in West Africa.
Emphasising Nigeria’s strategic importance, Vice President Shettima stated the nation’s ambition for a permanent role at the world’s top security table. “We are aspiring to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said, urging the UN to “support Nigeria even more so that we achieve more.”
The UN Secretary-General reportedly commended the Vice President for his emphasis on Nigeria’s bid.
Showcasing National Progress
The Nigerian delegation used the opportunity to showcase domestic advancements under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, revealed that Secretary-General Guterres expressed strong interest in Nigeria’s recent launch of its first multilingual AI large language model. “[The Secretary-General] mentioned that he would love to see Nigeria support other African countries to ensure Africa is not left behind in artificial intelligence,” Dr Tijani disclosed.
On humanitarian efforts, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, highlighted the government’s use of a National Social Register containing 18.9 million households, through which over 8.1 million Nigerians have received conditional cash transfers. He received assurances of continued UN support to authenticate the register and secure more funding for poverty reduction.
UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership Strengthened
In a separate bilateral meeting, Vice President Shettima and UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy MP pledged to deepen cooperation between their nations. The leaders committed to enhancing partnerships in key areas including trade, defence, and migration.
Focus on Youth and Digital Inclusion
Earlier, at a Global Leadership Council Meeting, Vice President Shettima outlined the Tinubu administration’s focus on leveraging digital opportunities for youth engagement and women’s empowerment.
“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 stated, noting that inclusivity is a cornerstone of the government’s agenda.
The series of meetings position Nigeria as an active leader on the global stage, pushing for greater representation while showcasing its domestic progress in technology and social intervention.
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