Shettima Meets Costa Rican UN Secretary-General Candidate in New York
Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria will support a candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General who believes in Africa’s aspirations and supports greater representation for the continent in global decision-making. Shettima made the position known when he met with Costa Rican candidate Rebeca Grynspan in New York. He said Nigeria’s decision would be guided by equity, justice and fairness, as well as the candidate’s commitment to Africa’s interests, multilateralism and conflict prevention. Shettima said he would recommend Grynspan’s candidature based on factors including Nigeria’s longstanding relationship with Latin America and the importance of gender inclusion. He also stressed the need to reform the global governance system, noting that the structure created in 1945 does not adequately reflect Africa’s population and contemporary global realities. Grynspan, who sought Nigeria’s support, said she was prepared to advance reforms advocated by countries in the Global South and described herself as someone who understands Africa’s aspirations. She pledged to prioritise peace and said Africa’s ambition for permanent representation on the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention under her leadership.
In a separate engagement, Shettima and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands discussed ways to deepen collaboration on financial inclusion and financial health in Nigeria. Under the proposed cooperation, the Netherlands would share expertise and experience in areas including insurance, credit guarantees and data generation to support Nigeria’s financial inclusion programmes, with particular attention to women and vulnerable groups. Shettima said financial inclusion was closely linked to education, security and poverty reduction, while highlighting government programmes including conditional cash transfers and agricultural schemes. He also pointed to the role of Nigerian fintech companies in expanding access to financial services. Queen Máxima, who serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, acknowledged efforts toward financial inclusion and pledged continued support from the Netherlands through knowledge and technical expertise. She said financial health initiatives could help strengthen citizens’ resilience, protect investments and expand access to insurance.
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