Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The high-level gathering took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together African leaders to deliberate on key continental priorities and development strategies.
His return was confirmed in a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications.
On the sidelines of the summit, Shettima met with António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Guterres urged Nigeria to assume a leadership role in Africa’s campaign for a reformed global order, describing the country as strategically positioned to guide the continent’s emergence as a major global force.
Addressing delegates, Shettima called for Africa to prioritise health security sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign assistance for critical medical supplies and infrastructure.
He stressed the need for resilient, locally driven healthcare systems capable of shielding African populations from disruptions in global supply chains and emergency responses.
The summit focused on sustainable water access and sanitation, aligning with the African Union’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063.
Beyond plenary sessions, the Vice President participated in side events and held bilateral talks with political and business leaders to deepen Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic partnerships.
Since assuming office, Shettima has spent 73 days on 22 trips across 16 countries, covering more than 43,000 nautical miles and logging over 93 flight hours in official engagements.
