Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government and the 30th AU General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
His return was confirmed in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.
While at the summit, Shettima met with António Guterres, who encouraged Nigeria to take a leading role in Africa’s campaign for reforms in the global order. Guterres described Nigeria as well positioned to help drive the continent toward greater global influence.
During the gathering, the Vice President pushed for stronger health security across Africa. He urged countries on the continent to reduce reliance on foreign aid and instead develop resilient, self-sustaining healthcare systems. According to him, Africa must shield its health sector from disruptions caused by fragile global supply chains and shifting international priorities during crises.
The summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” focused on advancing Africa’s commitments to water sustainability, sanitation, and the broader development blueprint outlined in the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Beyond the main sessions, Shettima participated in high-level side events and held bilateral meetings with political and business leaders aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent.
Since assuming office, the Vice President has spent 73 days on foreign trips, visiting 16 countries across 22 separate journeys. In total, he has travelled more than 43,000 nautical miles (79,000 kilometres) and logged over 93 flight hours.
Among the countries he has visited are Italy, Russia, South Africa, Cuba, China, the United States, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Guinea.
