Vice President Kashim Shettima will fly to Havana, Cuba today to represent President Bola Tinubu at the G77+China Leaders’ Summit from September 15 to 17, 2023.
The Director of Information at the Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, revealed this information in a statement provided to the media.
The director of information said that the vice president will be attending the summit with other world leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to discuss development issues facing members of the global south.
The Summit will also delve into proactive approaches for tackling the development challenges faced by member states, harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation to bolster socio-economic progress.
Abiola further mentioned that Vice President Shettima will engage in bilateral discussions with fellow world leaders on the sidelines of the Summit. This aims to advance Nigeria’s trade and investment ties, aligning with the economic development strategy of the Tinubu administration.
The G77+China Leaders’ Summit in Havana is being hosted by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who is also the chairman of the group. The summit will focus on the theme of “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”
Nigeria, one of the founding members of the G77 group, which was established in 1964 by seventy-seven developing countries, is part of this coalition of 134 developing nations representing 80% of the global population. Its primary objectives are to advance collective economic interests and bolster joint negotiating capabilities within the United Nations.
Accompanying the Vice President on this trip are Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology; and Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.