Shettima Assures UN Secretary-General Candidate of Nigeria’s Commitment to Equity, Africa’s Representation
Shettima Assures UN Secretary-General Candidate of Nigeria’s Commitment to Equity, Africa’s Representation
Shettima Assures UN Secretary-General Candidate of Nigeria’s Commitment to Equity, Africa’s Representation
Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Costa Rican candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan, that Nigeria’s support for the next UN chief will be guided by equity, justice, fairness and Africa’s aspirations in global affairs.
Shettima gave the assurance during a meeting with Grynspan in New York, United States, shortly before returning to Nigeria.
He said Nigeria would support a candidate committed to strengthening multilateralism, promoting Africa’s interests in global decision-making and advancing the continent’s quest for greater representation in key international institutions.
The Vice President said he would recommend Grynspan’s candidature, taking into consideration Nigeria’s historical ties with Latin America and the importance of gender inclusion, among other factors.
“Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective for your candidature of the United Nations Secretary-General. Nigeria and Costa Rica share a common historical background connecting both countries and their regions,” Shettima said.
He added that Nigeria valued its cordial relations with Latin America and remained committed to conflict prevention, multilateralism and global peace.
Shettima also stressed the need to reform the global governance system, noting that the international order had changed significantly since 1945 but had yet to adequately reflect Africa’s population of more than 1.3 billion people.
In her remarks, Grynspan said she was seeking Nigeria’s support for her candidature and expressed her commitment to leading the UN through reforms demanded by member states, particularly those from the Global South.
“Coming from the Global South, I represent the interests and demands of the region. I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations,” she said.
Grynspan pledged to prioritise peace and give urgent attention to Africa’s aspiration for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
Nigeria, Netherlands Deepen Financial Inclusion Partnership
In a related development, Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to strengthen cooperation on financial inclusion and financial health, with a focus on women and vulnerable groups.
The agreement followed a bilateral meeting between Vice President Shettima and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in New York.
Under the proposed partnership, the Netherlands will share its expertise and experience in financial health to support Nigeria’s ongoing financial inclusion programmes.
Shettima welcomed the offer of support, describing the partnership as timely and important to Nigeria’s efforts to improve access to financial services and reduce poverty.
He said financial inclusion was closely linked to education, security and poverty reduction, noting that the government was implementing programmes such as conditional cash transfers and initiatives in the agricultural sector to improve livelihoods.
The Vice President also highlighted the role of Nigerian fintech companies in expanding access to financial services for underserved populations.
On the economic reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Shettima said the measures were necessary in view of the economic conditions inherited in 2023.
Queen Máxima, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, commended Nigeria’s efforts to improve financial inclusion and acknowledged the country’s economic growth.
She pledged the Netherlands’ support in strengthening financial health through the sharing of expertise in insurance, credit guarantees and data generation.
Queen Máxima said the initiative was aimed at improving citizens’ financial resilience, protecting their investments and expanding access to insurance services.
She also urged private-sector organisations to prioritise the financial well-being of their customers, describing it as an important factor in their long-term sustainability.
Minister of Finance Taiwo Oyedele, who also spoke on the administration’s efforts, said existing policies on insurance and pensions, alongside recent measures announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, were expected to improve access to credit and reduce borrowing costs.
He added that financial inclusion remained a key priority of the Tinubu administration to enable more Nigerians to improve their livelihoods.
The statement was issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President.
Shettima Assures UN Secretary-General Candidate of Nigeria’s Commitment to Equity, Africa’s Representation
