Vice-President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, announced the return on Monday, 28 September 2026, in a statement issued in Abuja.

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Nkwocha said Shettima left Abuja on 20 September with Tinubu’s mandate to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual meeting.

During the visit, Shettima delivered Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate.

Nigeria again called for reform of the UN Security Council, permanent African representation, fairer global financing, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.

Shettima also took part in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where Tinubu’s message urged African countries to move beyond raw mineral exports to processing, manufacturing and value addition.

At a high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima restated Nigeria’s view of education as an investment in productivity, human capital and national prosperity.

He backed the Global Partnership for Education’s 5 billion dollar financing campaign.

The vice-president met Nigerians in the diaspora and stressed the value of their investment, skills and networks to national development.

Other meetings included the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

Nkwocha said Shettima used the engagements to press Nigeria’s case on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and security.