Shettima: Nigeria to support UN candidate committed to Africa’s interests

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria will back a candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General who is committed to advancing Africa’s interests in global decision-making.

Shettima made the position known during a meeting with Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica’s candidate for the UN Secretary-General position, in New York.

The meeting was disclosed in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, spokesman for the Vice President.

Shettima said Nigeria would base its support for candidates on equity, justice and fairness, while giving priority to those who recognise Africa’s aspirations.

“Nigeria will also support a candidate who believes in Africa’s aspirations in global affairs, specifically securing positions in key decision-making bodies and promoting multilateralism.”

He said Grynspan’s candidature could be recommended on the basis of Nigeria’s ties with Latin America, gender inclusion and other considerations.

“Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective for your candidature for the United Nations Secretary-General.

“Nigeria and Costa Rica share a common historical background connecting both countries and their regions.

“We also have a cordial relationship with Latin America, and we do not wish to jeopardise it.

“Beyond our historical ties and relations rests our interest in conflict prevention, multilateralism, and the peace of our nations,” Shettima said.

The Vice President also stressed the need to reform the global governance system, arguing that the structure that existed between 1945 and 2026 had not sufficiently reflected Africa’s growing importance.

“It has yet to reflect the integration of Africa, with its huge population estimated at over 1.3 billion people.”

Grynspan, in her remarks, appealed for Nigeria’s support for her candidature, saying she wanted to lead reforms at the UN, particularly those sought by countries in the Global South.

“Coming from the global south, I represent the interest and demands of the region.

“I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations,” she said.

The Costa Rican diplomat added that her agenda would place peace above other interests.

She further promised that Africa’s quest for permanent representation on the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention and be actualised.

Nigeria, Netherlands agree to strengthen financial inclusion

Meanwhile, Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to strengthen cooperation on financial inclusion, with particular attention to women and vulnerable members of society.

The agreement followed a bilateral meeting between Shettima and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in New York.

The Netherlands is expected to deploy its expertise in financial health to support Nigeria’s existing financial inclusion programmes.

Shettima welcomed the proposed partnership, saying financial inclusion was closely linked to education, security and poverty reduction.

He identified conditional cash transfers and agricultural programmes as some of the initiatives being implemented to expand financial inclusion.

The Vice President also said government policies had helped position leading African fintech firms to contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to reach people excluded from formal financial services.

He justified the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, describing them as necessary given the state of the economy when the administration came into office in 2023.

Queen Máxima, who serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, acknowledged the growth of the Nigerian economy and efforts to expand financial inclusion.

She pledged the Netherlands’ support through the sharing of expertise in insurance, credit guarantees and data generation.

According to her, the financial health programme seeks to improve citizens’ resilience, protect investments and strengthen access to insurance schemes.

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