Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in New York to lead the country’s delegation at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to The PUNCH, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, confirmed his arrival in a statement released Monday.
“Shettima touched down at John F. Kennedy International Airport in the early hours of the day,” Nkwocha said.
He was welcomed by top Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa.
As directed by President Bola Tinubu, Shettima will represent Nigeria and deliver the country’s national statement during the assembly. “The Vice President will also take part in several high-level meetings aimed at addressing critical global issues,” Nkwocha added.
The 79th session of UNGA is a pivotal event, focusing on accelerating progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Key discussions will center on climate change, poverty, inequality, and global health crises, as well as the effects of ongoing conflicts.
One of the major highlights of the week will be the Summit of the Future, scheduled for September 22-23. World leaders will gather at the UN Headquarters in New York to address the gaps in global governance exposed by recent crises.
The summit aims to reaffirm commitments to the SDGs and the UN Charter, culminating in a negotiated “Pact for the Future.”
The UN Department of Global Communications will also host the SDG Media Zone from September 23-27, featuring interviews and dialogues on pressing global issues.
Secretary-General António Guterres is convening the “Summit of the Future Action Days” on September 20 and 21, aimed at increasing engagement from various stakeholders to tackle these challenges.
