Nigeria’s Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, is set to embark on a diplomatic mission to represent President Bola Tinubu at the forthcoming G77+China Leaders’ Summit scheduled to take place in Havana, Cuba, from the 15th to the 17th of September, 2023.
In a statement provided to the media, Olusola Abiola, the Director of Information at the Office of the Vice President, revealed this information.
The summit, which will convene leaders from across the globe, will see Vice President Shettima joining esteemed dignitaries such as the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres, in addressing pressing development issues predominantly affecting member nations, primarily located in the global south.
Abiola stated that the central focus of the summit will be to explore proactive strategies aimed at tackling the myriad challenges faced by these member states, harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation to propel socio-economic growth.
Additionally, on the sidelines of the summit, Vice President Shettima is slated to engage in bilateral discussions with other world leaders. These meetings are expected to advance Nigeria’s trade and investment relations, aligning with the economic development diplomacy pursued by the Tinubu administration.
The G77+China Leaders’ Summit will hosted by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in his capacity as Chairman of the G77 and China. The overarching theme of this gathering is “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation.”
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Nigeria holds a significant role in this diplomatic endeavor as a founding member of the G77 group, originally established in 1964 by seventy-seven developing countries. Over time, this coalition has expanded to encompass 134 developing nations, collectively representing 80% of the world’s population. The group’s primary objectives include promoting the collective economic interests of its members and enhancing their joint negotiating capacity within the United Nations.
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Accompanying Vice President Shettima on this diplomatic mission are key officials from Nigeria’s government, including the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa, among other distinguished representatives.