Senator Kashim Shettima, the Vice President of Nigeria, is scheduled to embark on a journey from Abuja today, representing President Bola Tinubu at the G77+China Leaders’ Summit to be held in Havana, Cuba, from September 15th to 17th, 2023.
In an official statement from the Office of the Vice President’s Director of Information, Olusola Abiola, it has been confirmed that Vice President Shettima will join an assembly of prominent world leaders at the Summit, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres. The primary focus of this gathering is to engage in discussions pertaining to development issues predominantly encountered by member nations, primarily from the global south. The Summit aims to explore proactive strategies for addressing these challenges by harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation to foster socio-economic growth.
The Vice President Shettima intends to engage in bilateral meetings with fellow global leaders during the Summit, with the aim of advancing Nigeria’s trade and investment relationships, aligning with the economic development agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
The Havana Summit is being hosted by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in his capacity as the Chairman of the G77 and China. The overarching theme of the Summit is “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation.”
It is noteworthy that Nigeria holds the distinction of being a founding member of the G77 group, which was established in 1964 and initially comprised seventy-seven developing nations. Today, the group represents a coalition of 134 developing countries, collectively representing 80% of the world’s population. Their mission is to advance the collective economic interests of member states and bolster their negotiating capacity within the United Nations.
Accompanying the Vice President on this mission are notable members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abubakar Kyari; the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, as well as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa, among others.
