Emmanuel Obi
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Ahmed 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 scheduled for February 14 and 15, 2026.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).
This year’s summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” will focus on strengthening commitments toward sustainable water management, improved sanitation systems, and the broader goals of the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Beyond the main sessions, Shettima is expected to participate in high-level side events and bilateral meetings with political and business leaders to deepen Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yussuf Tuggar, who briefed journalists after debriefing the Vice President, described the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) as a strategic move to consolidate and strengthen democratic culture in Africa.
He also revealed that Nigeria has secured confirmation as host of the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank, alongside its nomination to the board of the bank.
Shettima was received at the Bole International Airport by Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Belete Mola; Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Berhanu Tsegaye; Amb. Tuggar; Permanent Secretary, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed; Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Amb. Nasiru Aminu; Head of Consular and Ambassador-Designate, Amb. Geoffrey Chima; and other officials.
On arrival, Tuggar briefed the Vice President on his itinerary for the summit.
