Shettima Leads Nigeria at UNGA 81 as Abuja Pushes Security Council Reform, Investment and Mineral Value Addition

By Simpson Global Media News Desk

Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the Federal Government is using the high-level diplomatic gathering to press its positions on reform of the international system, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action, investment and the greater processing of Africa’s mineral resources.

Shettima, who is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement before the General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, as the annual General Debate continues under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

Nigeria’s participation comes at a significant point in the country’s diplomatic agenda. Abuja has continued to advocate reform of the United Nations Security Council, including a permanent seat for an African country, while also seeking greater influence for developing countries in global financial, economic and political institutions.

Alongside the formal General Assembly programme, Nigerian officials have been conducting bilateral meetings and sector-focused engagements in New York.

The government has placed particular emphasis on attracting investment, expanding partnerships in mining, promoting value addition to Nigeria’s mineral resources and strengthening cooperation in education, development and other sectors.

The Nigerian delegation includes senior federal officials and state governors. Shettima arrived at the General Assembly with Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, are also part of the delegation.

The 2026 appearance also continues Shettima’s role in presenting Nigeria’s position at the UN General Assembly. In September 2025, he delivered Nigeria’s national statement at the 80th session, where the country called for reform of the Security Council, greater access to international financing, increased value addition to strategic minerals and efforts to close the digital divide.

Nigeria's national statement takes centre stage

The immediate diplomatic event for Nigeria is Shettima’s national statement before the General Assembly.

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation said the address would set out Nigeria’s position on major global issues and outline President Tinubu’s priorities concerning international institutional reform, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action and a more equitable global economic order.

The address comes during a General Debate that began on September 22 and is scheduled to continue through September 26 before concluding on September 28. The United Nations has listed several high-level meetings during the week, including discussions on development, climate action, sea-level rise, pandemic preparedness and other global issues.

The UN's theme for the 81st session places particular emphasis on restoring trust in multilateral institutions while managing major changes affecting countries around the world.

For Nigeria, that discussion intersects with longstanding diplomatic positions.

The country has argued that the structure of major international institutions should better reflect contemporary global demographics, economic realities and the role of developing countries.

Nigeria has also sought a greater African voice in decision-making institutions that determine international security, finance and development policy.

The national statement therefore provides an opportunity for Abuja to present these positions before representatives of UN member states.

The Security Council question

Reform of the United Nations Security Council has remained one of Nigeria's most consistent international diplomatic priorities.

The Council's permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Those five countries also hold veto power over substantive Council decisions.

Nigeria has repeatedly supported greater African representation in the Council and has advocated reforms that would give the continent a permanent voice in the institution.

In his 2025 UN General Assembly address, Shettima explicitly argued that Nigeria should have a permanent seat on the Security Council as part of wider institutional reform.

He linked the position to Nigeria's population, regional role, participation in peacekeeping and its contribution to international security.

The argument forms part of the wider African position on Security Council reform.

African countries have for years sought greater representation in the Council, contending that the continent is underrepresented in one of the most important institutions responsible for international peace and security.

The issue is complicated by the fact that Security Council reform requires agreement among UN member states and changes to the UN Charter.

Nigeria's position is therefore part of a broader diplomatic process rather than a decision that Abuja can implement independently.

Nigeria's diplomatic case is linked to its population and regional role

Nigeria has traditionally presented itself as one of Africa's major political, economic and demographic powers.

The country is Africa's most populous nation and plays a significant role in West African affairs through its participation in the Economic Community of West African States and other regional institutions.

Nigerian personnel have also participated in international peacekeeping operations.

In his 2025 UN address, Shettima said Nigeria had participated in 51 of the 60 United Nations peacekeeping operations conducted since the country's independence in 1960.

Nigeria has also been involved in regional security arrangements, including the Multinational Joint Task Force established to address threats around the Lake Chad Basin.

These experiences form part of the diplomatic argument Abuja has used when discussing Nigeria's role in international security.

The government has continued to connect those contributions with its call for a greater African voice in global decision-making.

From diplomatic reform to economic diplomacy

Nigeria's UNGA participation is not confined to political reform.

Economic diplomacy has emerged as another major feature of the delegation's activities in New York.

The government has used meetings around the General Assembly to discuss investment opportunities, mineral resources, education, development financing and partnerships with foreign governments and institutions.

The approach reflects the broader effort by the Tinubu administration to attract foreign capital and position Nigerian businesses and resources within international markets.

The administration has described economic reforms, including changes to the foreign-exchange system and fiscal arrangements, as part of its effort to create conditions for investment.

Shettima repeated that message during an interaction with Nigerians living in the United States at Nigeria House in New York on Wednesday.

He said Nigeria was open for business and called on members of the diaspora to contribute their expertise, capital and networks to the country's development.

Diaspora engagement becomes part of the New York agenda

The meeting with Nigerians in the United States provided the Vice President with an opportunity to address a constituency outside Nigeria but with significant economic and professional links to the country.

Shettima described the Nigerian diaspora as an important resource for national development.

He specifically mentioned education, healthcare, science and technology and agriculture as areas where Nigerians abroad could contribute knowledge and partnerships.

The government has also highlighted diaspora remittances as an important source of foreign exchange.

According to figures cited during the New York engagement, official remittances to Nigeria stood at about $20.93 billion in 2024.

The Central Bank of Nigeria was also cited as reporting gross external reserves of $55.25 billion as of September 18, 2026.

These figures were presented by government officials as indicators of Nigeria's external financial position.

The diaspora meeting also provided a platform for the administration to explain its economic policies directly to Nigerians living abroad.

Shettima cited the performance of the economy, foreign reserves, exchange-rate conditions and the development of large infrastructure and industrial projects.

He also highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, saying more than 1.29 million students had accessed N125 billion since the programme began.

Government's economic message to international investors

The message from the Nigerian delegation in New York has been consistent with the administration's broader investment diplomacy.

Officials are seeking to communicate that Nigeria wants foreign investors to participate in sectors including mining, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, education, technology and other areas of the economy.

The Federal Government has also emphasised the need for international investors to participate in projects that generate local employment and expand domestic productive capacity.

This approach was particularly visible in discussions around solid minerals.

Nigeria possesses significant deposits of minerals including lithium, gold, tin, iron ore, limestone and other resources.

The government's current policy emphasis is increasingly focused on moving from the export of raw materials toward domestic processing and value addition.

That objective was central to Shettima's participation in the Africa Minerals Strategy Group roundtable in New York.

Africa's minerals take a prominent place

At the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Shettima called for a continental approach that would reduce Africa's dependence on exporting unprocessed minerals.

He argued that African countries should develop processing and manufacturing industries around their mineral resources so that more of the economic value remains on the continent.

The Federal Government has linked that objective to job creation, industrial development and improved living standards.

The argument is based on a simple economic distinction.

Exporting an unprocessed mineral generally captures less of the value chain than processing it into an intermediate or finished product.

For example, mining can create employment and generate government revenue, but additional stages such as processing, refining, manufacturing and component production can create further jobs and industrial capabilities.

Nigeria is therefore seeking partnerships that can provide capital, technology and expertise while expanding domestic processing.

Nigeria and the United States sign mining cooperation framework

That mineral strategy received a new development in New York on Thursday.

Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed an agreement intended to deepen American investment and cooperation in Nigeria's mining sector.

The framework covers geological data, exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure and technical capacity, according to the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.

The agreement provides another example of how the Nigerian delegation is using the UNGA week for sector-specific diplomacy.

Although the General Assembly itself is primarily a political and diplomatic forum, the concentration of heads of government, ministers, investors and international organisations in New York creates opportunities for bilateral and commercial meetings.

For Nigeria, the mining discussions are particularly relevant because the country has identified solid minerals as one of the sectors through which it wants to diversify economic activity.

The push for local processing

The Nigerian government's argument on minerals is also part of a wider African debate about resource ownership and industrialisation.

Many African countries export minerals in raw or semi-processed form and then import manufactured products containing those same resources.

Governments across the continent have increasingly sought to capture more value domestically by encouraging refining, processing and manufacturing.

Nigeria is attempting to apply that approach to its own mineral resources.

The government has said it wants mining investment to include infrastructure, technical training and local processing rather than simply extracting ore for export.

Such a policy also requires investment in electricity, transportation, geological surveys, regulatory systems and skilled labour.

Mineral processing facilities are often capital-intensive and require dependable power and transport links.

The success of the strategy will therefore depend not only on attracting investors but also on creating the wider infrastructure and regulatory environment needed for industrial operations.

The education agenda

Education is another area featuring prominently in Nigeria's UNGA engagements.

Shettima used his meeting with the Nigerian diaspora to highlight the Nigeria Education Loan Fund and the number of tertiary students who have accessed loans through the programme.

The government has presented student financing as part of its effort to expand access to tertiary education.

The broader international development discussion also places education alongside technology, human capital and economic transformation.

For Nigeria, this is particularly significant because of the country's large and youthful population.

The government has repeatedly argued that Nigeria's demographic size can become an economic asset if young people receive education, skills and employment opportunities.

The challenge is therefore not only to increase enrolment but also to ensure that education produces skills relevant to a changing economy.

Climate action remains on the diplomatic agenda

Climate policy is another subject expected to feature in Nigeria's international engagement during the General Assembly.

The Federal Ministry of Information identified climate action as one of the issues to be addressed in Nigeria's national statement.

Nigeria's climate agenda includes issues such as energy transition, adaptation, financing and the development of mechanisms through which developing countries can obtain resources for climate-related investments.

The country's position has generally recognised the need to reduce emissions while also emphasising the development needs of a country with a large population and significant energy-access challenges.

Nigeria has also continued to advocate greater access to climate finance for developing countries.

The question of financing is particularly important because many climate investments require substantial upfront capital.

Renewable energy, flood protection, resilient infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture can require resources that are difficult for developing countries to mobilise domestically.

Nigeria's diplomatic position therefore includes calls for international financing, technology transfer and partnerships.

Peace and security remain central to Nigeria's international role

Nigeria's UN diplomacy also reflects its domestic and regional security experience.

The country continues to confront armed groups, terrorism, banditry, communal violence and other security challenges.

At the regional level, Nigeria remains involved in efforts to address insecurity across West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.

In his 2025 UN address, Shettima linked Nigeria's domestic experience with its wider international peacekeeping role and argued that sustainable peace requires both security measures and economic development.

The government's current UNGA agenda again places peace and security alongside development.

That connection reflects Nigeria's longstanding position that security challenges cannot be addressed exclusively through military operations.

Economic opportunity, education, functioning institutions and social development are also part of the wider policy environment in which security challenges emerge.

Nigeria's position on multilateralism

Nigeria has continued to describe the United Nations system as an important framework for international cooperation.

In his 2025 address, Shettima said Nigeria remained committed to multilateralism but argued that international institutions needed to adapt to changes in the global system.

He called for reforms that would make international institutions more representative and effective.

That position remains relevant to the theme of the 81st General Assembly.

The UN's current theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation,” reflects concerns about the ability of international institutions to address conflicts, climate change, development challenges, technological change and other cross-border problems.

For Nigeria, the argument for reform includes the representation of Africa in major international institutions and greater consideration of the interests of developing countries.

The Tinubu absence and the role of the Vice President

Shettima's presence at the UNGA also comes as President Tinubu remains outside Nigeria.

The State House said Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for a working vacation in London and subsequently travelled to Paris.

On September 21, the Presidency announced that he had extended the trip by several days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend.

The Presidency said Tinubu had continued to direct government affairs while away and had delegated Shettima to represent him at official functions, including the UN General Assembly.

Shettima left Abuja on September 20 for New York.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has also represented the President at some official engagements while Tinubu has been abroad.

The arrangement has attracted political commentary, including questions from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar about the constitutional procedure relating to presidential absence.

Channels Television reported that Atiku cited Section 145 of the Constitution and questioned whether the appropriate written declaration concerning the transfer of presidential functions had been made.

The Presidency, however, has maintained that Tinubu remains in contact with developments at home and that government functions continue through the officials representing him at various engagements.

The issue has therefore become part of the political discussion surrounding the President's absence, although it is separate from the substantive diplomatic programme Shettima is carrying out in New York.

The Vice President's diplomatic role

Shettima's UNGA assignment illustrates the constitutional and political role of the Vice President as a senior representative of the Federal Government.

He has represented Tinubu at international meetings on several occasions, including ECOWAS engagements and previous United Nations programmes.

The current UNGA delegation gives him an opportunity to communicate Nigeria's position directly to heads of government, foreign ministers, international organisations and other representatives.

The assignment also requires coordination across different parts of government.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry handles diplomatic relations.

The Solid Minerals Ministry is involved in mining negotiations.

The Defence Ministry is relevant to security discussions.

Other ministries and agencies participate in meetings dealing with education, climate, investment, development and humanitarian affairs.

The UNGA platform therefore brings several areas of Nigerian foreign and domestic policy together.

The significance of the state governors in the delegation

The presence of governors from Zamfara, Kwara and Rivers adds a subnational dimension to Nigeria's international engagement.

States control significant areas of economic and social policy and are responsible for many public services.

They also possess natural resources, tourism assets, agricultural capacity and investment opportunities.

The participation of governors in international meetings can therefore provide opportunities to discuss projects that require state-level involvement.

It also allows state governments to present their investment priorities directly to international partners.

The Federal Government has previously encouraged states to document their assets and develop investment and tourism strategies.

Shettima said in June that Nigeria's next phase of economic expansion would depend in part on states' ability to document their assets, attract investment, develop tourism and convert local resources into jobs.

The presence of governors in New York is consistent with that broader approach.

The Nigeria House engagements

Nigeria House in New York has served as a platform for the delegation's engagements outside the General Assembly chamber.

The Vice President used the venue for the meeting with Nigerian residents in the United States.

The location also hosted the mining cooperation signing involving Nigeria and the United States.

Such side engagements are a standard feature of major international summits.

They allow countries to conduct bilateral meetings, investor discussions, diaspora events and sector-specific negotiations alongside the formal multilateral programme.

For Nigeria, these meetings can be as significant in practical terms as speeches delivered from the General Assembly podium.

International diplomacy and domestic policy increasingly overlap

The 2026 UNGA programme demonstrates how closely domestic economic policy and international diplomacy are now connected.

Nigeria's call for investment depends partly on international perceptions of its economy.

Its mineral strategy requires foreign capital and technology.

Its climate commitments require financing and technical cooperation.

Its Security Council campaign requires diplomatic support from other countries.

Its education and development programmes can benefit from international partnerships.

The General Assembly therefore becomes a venue where domestic priorities are presented as part of Nigeria's foreign-policy agenda.

The challenge for government is then to translate diplomatic commitments into programmes that can be implemented at home.

What happens after the General Assembly

Nigeria's UNGA engagement will continue beyond Shettima's national statement.

The General Assembly General Debate runs through September 26 and resumes on September 28, while other high-level meetings continue during the week.

The UN schedule includes a September 24 high-level meeting addressing threats posed by sea-level rise and a September 25 meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Nigeria's delegation is also expected to participate in additional bilateral and multilateral meetings.

The Federal Government has said Shettima will continue engagements aimed at advancing Nigeria's national interests and strengthening cooperation with international partners.

The outcomes of those meetings will determine whether the diplomatic discussions produce concrete agreements, financing commitments, investment arrangements or further negotiations.

What the UNGA agenda means for Nigeria

Several of the issues on Nigeria's agenda have direct domestic implications.

Security Council reform concerns Nigeria's position in global decision-making.

Mineral value addition concerns industrialisation and employment.

Investment diplomacy concerns capital formation and economic growth.

Climate finance concerns infrastructure, agriculture and environmental resilience.

Education partnerships concern human capital.

Diaspora engagement concerns investment, remittances and skills transfer.

International institutional reform concerns the country's influence in global governance.

The UNGA therefore provides a forum where Nigeria can connect these issues to broader international debates.

The mineral strategy and the next phase

Of all the economic issues surrounding Nigeria's participation, mineral processing has received particular attention because of the agreement signed with the United States.

The framework provides a platform for cooperation in geological data, exploration, development and processing.

For Nigeria, the policy objective is to transform the mining sector from an extraction-focused industry into a broader industrial value chain.

That would require geological knowledge, reliable infrastructure, financing, technical skills and appropriate regulation.

The government is also expected to continue discussions with other countries and investors.

The result will depend on the implementation of agreements rather than the signing ceremony alone.

A continuing diplomatic campaign

Nigeria's presence at UNGA 81 is part of a broader diplomatic campaign that extends beyond one week in New York.

The government has continued to seek international partnerships through ECOWAS, bilateral engagements, investment summits and meetings with development institutions.

The UNGA provides one of the largest annual concentrations of global decision-makers.

Nigeria is using that platform to communicate its priorities while also pursuing practical agreements on investment and development.

Shettima's scheduled address will provide the formal summary of those priorities before the General Assembly.

The next stage of Nigeria's UN engagement

As the 81st General Assembly proceeds, attention will turn to the substance of Nigeria's national statement and the responses it receives from other member states.

The Security Council reform campaign remains a long-term diplomatic effort.

The push for mineral processing will require follow-up on the agreements being signed in New York.

The investment message will depend on whether discussions with international investors translate into projects.

Climate and development commitments will require financing and implementation.

And the diaspora engagement agenda will depend on whether Nigerians abroad convert their expertise, capital and networks into sustained partnerships with institutions at home.

These outcomes cannot be determined solely by speeches at the General Assembly.

They depend on negotiations, policy implementation and cooperation after the summit.

Nigeria's broader message

The message emerging from Nigeria's participation is that Abuja wants the country to be treated not only as a large market but also as a participant in shaping international economic and political rules.

The government is seeking greater influence in multilateral institutions while simultaneously presenting Nigeria as a destination for investment and a partner in regional security and development.

Those objectives are connected.

A stronger role in international institutions can provide greater diplomatic influence.

Investment partnerships can expand economic capacity.

Industrial development can strengthen domestic production.

Improved economic capacity can support Nigeria's regional and international responsibilities.

The government is therefore presenting foreign policy and domestic economic transformation as mutually connected areas.

Shettima's September 24 assignment

For now, the immediate focus remains Shettima's appearance before the General Assembly on September 24.

The Vice President is expected to speak for Nigeria and present the administration's position on international institutional reform, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action and the global economic system.

His speech will come against the background of a Nigerian delegation that has already been active in New York.

The delegation has engaged the African minerals agenda, met Nigerians in the diaspora, participated in UN activities and advanced a new mining cooperation framework with the United States.

Those activities provide the practical context surrounding the formal address.

Nigeria's participation in the 81st General Assembly is therefore not limited to the traditional diplomatic ritual of delivering a national statement.

It includes economic negotiations, investment promotion, diaspora engagement, regional resource policy and efforts to influence international institutional reform.

A diplomatic agenda with domestic consequences

The significance of the New York meetings will ultimately be measured by what happens after the delegation returns to Nigeria.

If mining agreements lead to investment in exploration and processing, they could affect the development of the solid-minerals sector.

If diaspora engagement produces new investment and skills partnerships, it could strengthen links between Nigerians abroad and domestic institutions.

If international discussions produce additional climate or development financing, those resources could support projects inside Nigeria.

If Nigeria's campaign for Security Council reform attracts wider support, it could strengthen the country's position in the continuing debate over the future structure of the Council.

These are longer-term processes rather than immediate outcomes.

The General Assembly provides the platform, but implementation will occur through government agencies, businesses, international institutions and diplomatic negotiations.

Nigeria's place in the 81st General Assembly

The 81st UN General Assembly is taking place against a global environment marked by security conflicts, economic pressures, climate risks, technological change and debates over the future of international institutions.

Nigeria's delegation is approaching those debates from the perspective of a large developing country with significant demographic, economic and natural-resource interests.

Its priorities include greater representation in global governance, stronger economic partnerships, improved value addition to natural resources and expanded opportunities for development.

Shettima's scheduled address on September 24 will bring those positions into the central debate of the General Assembly.

The Vice President's role also reflects the continuing use of senior Nigerian officials to represent the country at major international forums.

As the UNGA week continues, Nigerian officials will continue bilateral meetings and sector-specific engagements alongside the formal General Debate.

The immediate diplomatic programme is therefore still developing.

The outcomes will become clearer as agreements are implemented, negotiations continue and member states respond to Nigeria's proposals.

For Nigeria, the 81st General Assembly provides a broad platform to pursue both diplomatic and economic objectives.

The country's Security Council reform position remains part of its long-standing foreign-policy agenda.

Its mineral strategy is being linked to investment, processing and industrial development.

Its diaspora policy is being linked to remittances, skills and investment.

Its climate agenda is being linked to development financing and adaptation.

And its wider multilateral position is focused on giving developing countries a greater voice in institutions that shape international policy.

With Shettima representing President Tinubu in New York, Nigeria is presenting these priorities through both the formal UN process and a series of bilateral and sector-focused engagements.

The coming days will determine the immediate diplomatic outcomes.

The longer-term significance, however, will depend on whether the partnerships, commitments and policy positions advanced in New York translate into concrete developments in Nigeria and sustained support for the country's positions within the international system.