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Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Nigeria to represent President Bola Tinubu at the G77, China Leaders’ Summit in Havana, Cuba
This was contained in a statement issued by The Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Olusola Abiola.
Mr Abiola said Shettima would join other world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the summit held from Sept. 15 to 17, 2023.
According to him, the Vice President departed Nigeria on Wednesday to attend the summit which would reflect on developmental issues facing members, mostly from the global south.
Olusola added that the Vice President will seize the opportunity to present Nigeria’s trade and investment opportunities to the world leaders.
“The summit will equally explore proactive ways of addressing challenges facing the development of the member-states leveraging science, technology and innovation to enhance socio-economic growth.
“Also, Shettima will, on the sidelines of the Summit, hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development diplomacy of the President Bola Tinubu administration,” he said.
The information director explained that the Havana Summit would be hosted by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in his capacity as Chairman of the G77.
According to him, the theme of the summit is “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”
“The group, a coalition of 134 developing countries with 80 per cent of the world population, aims to promote its members’ collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations,” he added.
The statement revealed that the Vice President would be accompanied by agriculture and rural development minister, Abubakar Kyari, his innovation, science and technology counterpart, Uche Nnaji, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Adamu Lamuwa.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the information director also recalled that Nigeria was a founding member of the G77 group, which was established in 1964 by 77 developing countries.
