Nigeria’ll Back UN Candidate Who Believes In Africa’s Aspirations — Shettima

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

Shettima made the statement during a meeting in New York with Costa Rica’s candidate for the UN Secretary-General position, Rebeca Grynspan, who is seeking Nigeria’s support for her candidature.

The Vice President said Nigeria’s position would be guided by equity, justice and fairness, alongside the candidate’s commitment to Africa’s aspirations and the strengthening of multilateralism.

He said Nigeria was particularly interested in greater African representation in key international decision-making institutions, including reforms that would give the continent a stronger voice within the United Nations system.

Shettima also highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding relationship with Latin America, as well as issues including conflict prevention, peace and gender inclusion, as factors that would inform the country’s consideration of candidates.

He said the global governance structure had changed significantly since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 but had yet to adequately reflect Africa’s demographic and strategic importance.

The Vice President noted that Africa, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, deserved greater representation in global decision-making.

Grynspan, a former Vice President of Costa Rica, met Shettima as part of her efforts to secure support for her bid to become the next UN Secretary-General.

She said she was seeking to lead the organisation through reforms being demanded by countries, particularly those in the Global South.

Grynspan also emphasised her connection to the Global South and said she understood Africa’s aspirations. She pledged that, if elected, her administration would prioritise peace and pursue reforms aimed at making the UN more responsive to developing countries.

She further said Africa’s longstanding demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention.

Nigeria has consistently called for reforms of the Security Council, including permanent African representation, as part of its broader position that the current global governance structure should better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

Shettima’s meeting with Grynspan came shortly before his return to Nigeria after leading the country’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.