Kashim Shettima Returns To Abuja After Attending AU Summit In Ethiopia

Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja following his trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government and the 30th AU General Assembly in Addis Ababa on Friday and Saturday.

His return was confirmed in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications.

During the summit, Shettima met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who encouraged Nigeria to take a leading role in reshaping the global order.

Guterres described Nigeria as well-positioned to guide Africa toward superpower status.

Shettima also used the platform to call for Africa to strengthen its health systems and reduce reliance on foreign aid, emphasizing the importance of building self-sufficient, locally-driven healthcare across the continent.

The AU summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” brought together African leaders to discuss sustainable water management, better sanitation, and the continent’s long-term development goals under Agenda 2063.

On the sidelines, Shettima took part in high-level meetings with political and business leaders to boost Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties across Africa.

He stressed the need for African countries to protect public health from disruptions in global supply chains and shifting international priorities.

“It had become a matter of necessity to ensure the health of Africans is not subjected to the uncertainties of distant supply chains or the shifting priorities of global panic,” the Vice President said.

Since taking office, Shettima has spent 73 days abroad, visiting 16 countries on 22 separate trips.

He has traveled more than 43,000 nautical miles (around 79,000 kilometers) and logged over 93 hours in the air.

His travels have taken him to Rome, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Beijing, China; Iowa and New York in the United States (three times); Davos, Switzerland (three times); Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Stockholm, Sweden; Baku, Azerbaijan; Liberia; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Conakry, Guinea.

KanyiDaily recalls that Kashim Shettima previously led Nigeria’s delegation to the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.