Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja following his diplomatic engagement in Luanda, Angola, where he stood in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 7th African Union–European Union (AU–EU) Summit. His arrival marks the conclusion of an important international mission that began in South Africa, where he also represented President Tinubu at the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
During the AU–EU Summit in Luanda, Vice President Shettima delivered President Tinubu’s address to African and European leaders, reiterating Nigeria’s position that Africa must secure permanent, veto-wielding seats on the United Nations Security Council. The President’s message emphasized that the global governance system is overdue for broad reforms that reflect the current geopolitical landscape and ensure fairer representation for developing regions.
President Tinubu also urged the European Union to collaborate with African nations in co-developing peace and security strategies that rely on African-owned frameworks. He stressed that long-term stability on the continent can only be achieved when interventions respect African perspectives and priorities. The statement reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to supporting peace, democratic governance, and security partnerships across Africa.
In addition, referencing Nigeria’s earlier participation at the G20 Summit, Shettima conveyed President Tinubu’s views on restructuring the global financial system to be more efficient and equitable. The President highlighted the need for a fair approach to handling sovereign debt challenges and called for mechanisms that allow African nations to retain more value from their critical mineral resources through local processing.
President Tinubu also expressed support for the creation of global ethical standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting that responsible AI development is essential for ensuring inclusive growth and preventing technological disparities.
